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Wind Power News: West Virginia
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Appalachian Power requests new surcharge to pay for renewable energy plants
Appalachian Power is asking the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) to approve new surcharges to cover the cost of opening renewable energy plants in other states. West Virginia customers would pay more on their Appalachian Power bill every month to operate the solar and wind power plants. The company is also proposing a new Renewable Power Plus (RPP) tariff that customers would have to pay if they want to get renewable energy through these projects. PSC documents show Appalachian . . . Complete story »
Gov. Justice signs bill setting up state wind and solar reclamation bonding program into law
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has signed into law a bill establishing a state-administered wind and solar reclamation bonding program. Justice signed Senate Bill 492 into law Monday, approving the final version of the legislation that relaxed some of the bonding requirements included in the original version. The bill was amended in the House of Delegates to eliminate the original bill’s minimum bond value of $150,000 for wind and solar facilities and increase the minimum capacity for facilities to be . . . Complete story »
Pinnacle wind turbines to be replaced
KEYSER, W.Va. – Upgrades to the Pinnacle wind farm are underway and expected to be completed later this year, parent company Clearway Energy Group recently announced. The San Francisco-based clean energy company announced that it will begin the process of re-powering the plant, or making upgrades to the existing turbines to lengthen their life spans. In a recent interview, Dan Hendrick, the head of external affairs for Clearway’s eastern division, said that the receipt of $128 million in financing for the . . . Complete story »
Pinnacle wind turbines to be replaced
KEYSER, W.Va. – Upgrades to the Pinnacle wind farm are underway and expected to be completed later this year, according to Clearway Energy Group. Dan Hendrick, head of external affairs for Clearway’s eastern division, said the recent receipt of $128 million in financing for the Pinnacle farm work will allow the company to replace the 23 existing turbines with newer, more efficient ones. About $89 million of that money is for the construction, he said. Since Pinnacle first went on the . . . Complete story »
WV Senate passes state wind and solar reclamation bonding program
The West Virginia Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill Tuesday that would establish a reclamation bonding program for wind and solar facilities in the state. Senate Bill 492 would establish a minimum bond value of $150,000 and exempt facilities with capacities less than 0.5 megawatts, meaning smaller solar energy producers and those with solar panels on their roofs would be excluded from the reach of the bill. Supporters of SB 492 say its intent is to add a mechanism for the . . . Complete story »
Senate Finance Committee advances bill to create wind and solar reclamation bonding program
The West Virginia Senate Finance Committee advanced a bill to the full Senate Friday that would establish a state wind and solar reclamation bonding program. Senate Bill 492 would establish a minimum bond value of $150,000 and exempt facilities with capacities less than 0.5 megawatts, meaning smaller solar energy producers and those with solar panels on their roofs would be excluded from the reach of the bill. The intent of SB 492 is to add a mechanism for the state . . . Complete story »
Senate energy panel advances bill to establish wind, solar reclamation bonding program
The West Virginia Senate Energy, Industry and Mining Committee signed off on establishing a wind and solar reclamation bonding program Wednesday via a bill identical to one already advanced in the House of Delegates. Senate Bill 492 would establish a minimum bond value of $150,000 and exempt facilities with capacities less than 0.5 megawatts, meaning smaller solar energy producers and those with solar panels on their roofs would be excluded from the reach of the bill. The bill was referred . . . Complete story »
Avoid shortsighted mistakes regarding energy
Over the past few months, people have become acutely aware of the problems with relying on foreign countries for vital products. The global pandemic has demonstrated that America depends on foreign suppliers far too much for products vital to our health, from masks to testing swabs to pharmaceuticals. America found out about this issue the hard way. Yet, in another sector of our economy that is vital to our national security – energy – America is about to plunge blindly into a . . . Complete story »
Lack of public support kills pumped storage hydropower project planned for Grant County
The project also would have made it possible for wind power operations in the area, such as the nearby NedPower and New Creek wind farms, to send power to the Ulysses PSP when weather accommodated power generation. When winds become slack, the Ulysses project would have had the ability to discharge water from the upper reservoir through the penstock to generate power equivalent to the amount “stored” earlier by wind farms, avoiding power curtailments to customers while providing them with 100 percent renewable energy. Complete story »
Let the people vote on wind farms
Regarding the Nov. 9 article, “Officials rail against ‘false accusations” (Page 1A): Personally, I found the commissioners’ approach to the Dan’s Mountain residents to be immensely insensitive and callous. Their attitudes smack of “Get out of the way; you don’t matter.” These residents are people who are fighting for their homes and their quality of life. Our homes are our only sanctuary. At the end of each day, our homes are where we come for peace of mind and what . . . Complete story »
