A towering controversy: wind turbines proposed on East River Mountain
Credit: By CHARLES OWENS, Bluefield Daily Telegraph, www.bdtonline.com, 29 December 2009
The concept of going green took on a whole new meaning in 2009 for the region. With the Obama administration pushing new clean energy sources, the scenic beauty of East River Mountain was suddenly threatened, and the greater Bluefield region was divided by a towering controversy.
Dominion and BP Wind Energy North America announced they had purchased a large track of land along the ridgelines of East River Mountain with the objective of constructing as many as 60, 400-foot tall windmills. The news quickly divided the region. Some welcomed the announcement of the wind turbines, and the promise of a new and clean energy source for the region. However, others strongly objected, and warned the giant turbines would devastate the scenic beauty of East River Mountain, harm the environment, kill birds, cause property rates to plummet and cause potential harm to nearby residences and schools.
Caught in the middle of the controversy was the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors, who scrambled to develop a proposed ridgeline construction ordinance. Tazewell County has no current zoning laws. Although the wind turbines aren’t proposed for the municipal limits of Bluefield, Va., the Bluefield, Va. Town Council still passed a similar ordinance regulating the development of tall structures in the town. However, the supervisors were slow to act on the proposed ridgeline ordinance, and even opted to delay a second public hearing on the revised ridgeline plan until Tuesday, Jan. 12, at 6:15 p.m. at Tazewell Middle School.
While Tazewell County was slow to make a decision, neighboring Wise County gave a green light of approval to a similar wind turbine farm also proposed by Dominion and BP. While they await a decision by Tazewell County, officials with Dominion and BP are continuing a number of studies on East River Mountain.
A meteorological tower to study wind speed and direction has already been erected on East River Mountain. A number of geo-technical studies, along with wildlife and avian studies, are also continuing at the Tazewell County site, according to officials with Dominion.
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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- Tazewell windmills — Public hearing the place to speak out
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