Tazewell officials: Windmill decision could be rendered in February

Credit:  By CHARLES OWENS, Bluefield Daily Telegraph, www.bdtonline.com 4 January 2010

TAZEWELL, Va. — A decision on a controversial wind-turbine farm for East River Mountain could come as early as February, according to Tazewell County officials.

The county Board of Supervisors will meet today at 6 p.m. at the administration offices in Tazewell, but there is no mention of wind turbines on the board’s six-page agenda. The windmill controversy will instead be addressed at the Tuesday, Jan. 12 meeting, according to board chairman David Anderson.

“I would wholeheartedly encourage them (citizens) to wait until the 12th,” Anderson said. “That is the reason why we did a separate meeting on this.”

While citizens can still address the turbine issue at today’s meeting during an unscheduled citizen comment section of the board’s agenda, Anderson said the Jan. 12 meeting is when the official public hearing will be held on the proposed ridgeline protection ordinance.

The Jan. 12 meeting will be held at Tazewell Middle School. The meeting starts at 5 p.m., and the public hearing on the ridgeline ordinance will begin at 6:15 p.m.

Anderson said he doesn’t anticipate a decision on the ridgeline ordinance at the Jan. 12 meeting.

“I would hope that the due process would be to let the people speak,” Anderson said. “But if you voted that night, it would be like you didn’t take anything that was said into consideration. I would hope that we would review, and absorb all of the information, and not take any action until Feb. 2. In fact, I would discourage any motion being made (on Jan. 12). I would discourage it until the next meeting.”

By waiting until Feb. 2, Anderson said the individual board members will have ample time to properly digest and consider all of the citizen comments that are received on Jan. 12.

Dominion and BP Wind Energy North America have proposed the development of as many as 60, 400-foot tall windmills in Tazewell County along the ridgeline of East River Mountain. The ridgeline ordinance — as currently written — would restrict the development of tall structures along certain protected ridgelines, including East River Mountain and Burkes Garden.

Anderson said it is important for citizens to remember that the board is only considering a ridgeline construction ordinance, and not a wind energy ordinance.

While a discussion regarding wind turbines isn’t on today’s agenda, Anderson said the board will still discuss guidelines today for the Jan. 12 public hearing. For example, Anderson said the time allotted for each citizen to speak at the Jan. 12 meeting could depend upon the size of the crowd at the Jan. 12 hearing. Citizens will be asked to sign-up to speak in advance. Anderson said the board also is working on a contingency plan in the event of inclement weather, or another snow storm on Jan. 12.

The supervisors also will reorganize at today’s meeting. Anderson said he intends to relinquish his chairmanship.

“It (the chairmanship) should be rotated,” Anderson said. “I said that and I’m not a person that goes back on my word. I think we are all elected equally, and I think we should all have an opportunity or chance to be chairman.”

Tags: Wind power, Wind energy

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