January 25, 2012
West Virginia

Mineral County leaders approve signing wind farm decommissioning agreement

Elaine Blaisdell, Cumberland Times-News, times-news.com 24 January 2012

KEYSER, W.Va. – The Mineral County commissioners on Tuesday approved the signing of the decommissioning fund and escrow agreement for Pinnacle Wind Farm LLC.
The copy of the original request was sent to the law firm Steptoe and Johnson, according to Mike Bland, county coordinator. “The only changes that were made in the agreement basically transfer the rights to the wind as the assets to the agreement to KeyBank National Association. It doesn’t change our rights to assets and how we go about administering the decommissioning should that ever occur.”
Green Mountain residents in attendance at a December meeting complained about noise the wind turbines make and presented the commissioners with a petition asking the West Virginia Public Service Commission to have them turned off during certain hours.
The petition also requested that the commissioners refuse to sign any more decommission agreements. The PSC requires wind companies to negotiate a decommissioning agreement before the developer can proceed with the installation of turbines.
After spending the night in a home near the wind farm, Brad Christopher, Edison Mission Energy project manager, agreed there was a problem with the sound the turbines make, commission president Cindy Pyles noted during Tuesday’s meeting. “They have gone to great lengths to be a good neighbor,” said Pyles.
The commissioners also agreed to send a letter to the delegates informing them of the commission’s opposition to a proposed bill that would lower the wireless 911 fees from $3 to 75 cents.
“Everybody was upset about that because they have new buildings and bills to pay,” said Commissioner Janice LaRue. “It (the bill) will probably not make it through.”
The commissioners also:
• Gave Pyles approval to sign the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan once it was finalized.
• Approved an administrative order appointing William Roy, David Long and Pat Amoroso as court marshals for Circuit Court and Magistrate Court.
These appointments grant them arrests powers, according to Bland.
Lauren Ellifritz, county clerk, noted that because of redistricting changes, Pre-cinct 11 would be moving to Frankfort High School.
The next commission meeting will take place Feb. 15 at 9:30 a.m.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/25/mineral-county-leaders-approve-signing-wind-farm-decommissioning-agreement/