LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Lawmakers visit Richmond to sort out county ordinance and state bill on renewable energy 

Credit:  By KATE COIL, Bluefield Daily Telegraph, bdtonline.com 22 January 2011 ~~

RICHMOND, Va. – Tazewell County officials still have no word on whether or not a proposed renewable energy bill might override a local ordinance prohibiting tall structures on ridgelines.

While in Richmond this week for the county’s legislative visit, officials attempted to clarify whether or not Senate Bill 862 would trump the county’s existing ridgeline protection ordinance, Board of Supervisors Chairman David Anderson said.

The legislation introduced by Sen. Frank Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, would restrict local governments’ roles in regards to Commonwealth goals promoting the generation of energy from renewable sources, such as wind energy.

Anderson said he made several attempts to contact Wagner, but as of Friday, he was still waiting to hear from the senator.

“I expressed my concerns to Delegate (James W. “Will”) Morefield, Sen. (Anne B.) Crockett-Stark, and Sen. (Phillip) Puckett,” Anderson said. “I went to visit Sen. Wagner three different times. I visited him on Tuesday and I stopped by his office twice on Wednesday, as well as left him a message to call me. We were very persistent with him all week. I was also contacted by Dominion, who said they aren’t behind this bill. We haven’t heard back from Sen. Wagner as of yet.”

However, Anderson said he did leave a message for Wagner, including the county’s concerns regarding their own ordinance.

“I let Sen. Wagner know our intent and I want to make sure the bill doesn’t override our ordinance,” he said. “I asked local legislators to look at our ordinance and make sure the bill doesn’t override it.”

Dominion Energy is still hoping to construct a large-scale wind turbine farm along the ridgelines of East River Mountain.

Otherwise, Anderson said the visit went well and was a good chance for Tazewell County representatives to communicate with officials in Richmond.

“It’s always nice to see our legislators and meet with them one-on-one to discuss concerns and discuss our future,” Wagner said.

Bluefield Town Manager Mike Watson said he also spoke with local delegates concerning Senate Bill 862 and the existing ridgeline ordinance.

“We have a bill being patroned by Sen. Annie Crockett-Stark in regards to Senate Bill 862 that will deal with the possibility of the state employing an ordinance that would, for the lack of a better word, trump our ordinance we already have existing,” Watson said.

Additionally, Watson said Tazewell County officials had a chance to talk with a variety of state legislators, agencies and departments on different matters important to the county.

“We shared our concerns with VDOT, met with the Virginia Economic Development Authority, and worked toward clarification of the wind energy bill,” Watson said. “We had a really good sit down about the Spearhead Trail and tourism. We talked with VDOT about residency and maintenance in the county. We discussed issue with the environmental agency about certain infrastructure developments we are having issue with.”

Watson said the visit was a success over all.

Source:  By KATE COIL, Bluefield Daily Telegraph, bdtonline.com 22 January 2011

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon