June 24, 2016
Tennessee

Fairfield Glade opposes wind farm

FG opposes wind farm | Heather Mullinix | Crossville Chronicle | www.crossville-chronicle.com

The people have spoken – about 2,600 of them – and most don’t want the proposed Crab Orchard Wind wind farm near Fairfield Glade.

“We’ve gathered a lot of information we think helps our ability to make our decision,” said Bob Diller, president of the Fairfield Glade Community Club Board of Directors. “The survey results are supporting our decision.

The board unanimously approved a statement opposing the wind farm project at its regular monthly meeting Thursday. Specifically, the statement opposes the wind farm based on the potential negative impacts to property values in Fairfield Glade and the negative impact on future growth the project may have. It was passed following a motion from Misty Keyes with support from Harry Price.

Apex Clean Energy has proposed constructing a 71 megawatt wind farm, with 20 to 23 turbines reaching possible total heights of 650 feet, on Millstone Mountain, about two miles away from the closest area of Fairfield Glade.

According to the survey, which was open to Fairfield Glade Community Club members for 26 days, 79.9 percent oppose the project while 20.10 support. Among supporters, 66.54 percent said they believed green energy is good for the country while 33.46 percent said the project was a financial benefit to Cumberland County.

Those opposing the project were asked to pick their primary reason for opposition: it will destroy the natural beauty of the mountains, 33.02 percent; opposition to the federal wind energy subsidies, 14.84 percent; health of self or others in the county, 10.31 percent; impact to view and property values, 19.77 percent; noise, 2.54 percent; and the environmental impact of the project, 19.52 percent.

Several stated they would have liked to have chosen more than one reason.

See next week’s Glade Sun for more information.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/06/24/fairfield-glade-opposes-wind-farm/