October 26, 2017
Virginia

Floyd County Supervisors approve resolution to support renewable energy resources

Floyd County Supervisors Tuesday night unanimously endorsed and approved a resolution to support 100 percent renewable energy resources instead of fossil fuels that pollute the environment.

The resolution puts the Board on record to “support the achievement of near zero greenhouse emissions through policies that shift the energy supply strategy of our county from fossil fuels to 100% clean renewable energy.”

Floyd County’s school system is already examining potential solar power heat sources to replace its aging coal-fired heat plants.

Approval of the resolution came after Board chairman Case Clinger questioned language that identified “solar, wind, geothermal and other renewable resources,” which he said could run counter to the country’s earlier opposition to wind turbines. Plans for a wind turbine electrical generating farm near Wills Ridge brought opposition from residents who felt the giant wind generators spoiled the county’s “view shed.”

The Board struck the offending sentence from the resolution before approval. Both Clinger and Burks Fork Supervisor Joe Turman said they have received complaints from some residents about taking a position on the renewable energy resolution, which has been promoted by Sustain Floyd, Preserve Floyd and other organizations.

“This is something we need to do,” Clinger said.

Supervisors Linda DeVito Kuchenbuch of Little River and Lauren Yoder of Locust Grove praised the resolution and vote and said the county is taking a “necessary lead” in the issue.

Approval of the resolution brought applause of a large audience attending the meeting Tuesday night.

In other actions Tuesday:

— Supervisors, by a 3-2 vote, approved reappointment of Floyd County Planning Commission chairman Becky Howell to a new four-year term as the Burks Fork representative to the commission after prolonged discussion in close door executive sessions. Turman and Indian Valley Supervisor Fred Gerald voted for Howell while Kuchenbuch and Yoder voted against. Chairman Clinger broke the tie to approve her reappointment;

–A $189,985.48 bid for a new Type 1 ambulance was approved unanimously and awarded to Vest’s Sales and Service Inc. in Check;

–The Board approved a $52,640 bid for purchase of extrication tools for the Floyd and Check fire departments from Atlantic Emergency Solutions in Tazewell;

–The Board authorized County Administrator Terri Morris to request sealed bids for solid waste transfer services for future fiscal years. Bids are due on Nov. 17.

–The Board set its only meeting for November for Nov. 21 and cancelled its scheduled second meeting in December because of conflicts with Christmas.

URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/10/26/floyd-county-supervisors-approve-resolution-to-support-renewable-energy-resources/

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