| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Rocky Forge site is close to the worst
Credit: The Roanoke Times | www.roanoke.com ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
It was extremely disappointing to read the Feb. 10 commentary by Dan Crawford, chair of the Sierra Club Roanoke Group titled “Rocky Forge site is close to perfect.” Similar to a commentary by Christopher West in the January 21 paper, Mr. Crawford appears to have drunk the Kool-Aid being served by Apex Clean Energy, the company responsible for the proposed Rocky Forge Wind project.
When Mr. Crawford writes that “The Rocky Forge site is as close to perfect as we can expect,” he either has not read, or is choosing to ignore, the “Wind Siting Advisory” of the national Sierra Club (https://www.sierraclub.org/policy/energy/wind-siting-advisory). In part, that advisory states:
“The Sierra Club opposes development in protected areas such as national and state parks, national monuments, wilderness areas, wildlife refuges, designated roadless areas, critical habitat and designated habitat recovery areas for wildlife, and areas of cultural significance, sacred lands, and other areas that have special scenic, natural or environmental value. In these areas, it is inappropriate to build wind turbines, roads, transmission lines, or any other structure related to wind development.”
Does Mr. Crawford know, or is he choosing to ignore, that North Mountain, the site for Rocky Forge is located in the Buffalo Creek – Purgatory Mountain Wildlife Corridor? Does Mr. Crawford know, or is he choosing to ignore, that the Botetourt Comprehensive Plan states:
“Preserving scenic views and vistas is particularly important for Botetourt County. The County’s scenery is critical to the rural character and is one of its most distinguishing features.”
Does Mr. Crawford know, or is he choosing to ignore, that the proposed turbines will be visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway? Does Mr. Crawford know, or is he choosing to ignore, that the Upper James River (which flows at the base of North Mountain) is a designated Virginia Scenic River?
The list goes on of information that Mr. Crawford is either ignorant of, or is choosing to ignore, on why the Rocky Forge site is as close to the worst site as possible for such an industrial development project.
DIANNE DEMAY
LEXINGTON
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 |
 (via Stripe) |
 (via Paypal) |
Share:
[ Short URL: https://wind-watch.org/news/?p=96723 ]
