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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.
WV customers could bear cost of Appalachian Power wind projects
After Virginia regulators rejected Appalachian Power’s request to buy two wind farms under development, opponents of the deal warn West Virginia customers could bear the farms’ costs alone if the West Virginia Public Service Commission approves the purchase. In July, Appalachian announced it would move to buy the Beech Ridge II Wind Facility in Greenbrier County and the Hardin Wind Facility in Ohio. Appalachian has proposed to finance the development of the two projects with an $84.6 million construction surcharge . . . Complete story »
Wind energy still hasn’t gone mainstream in the Mountain State
CLARKSBURG – The wind energy revolution hasn’t really taken root in West Virginia yet, despite its environmental benefits. The American Wind Energy Association reports total U.S. installed wind capacity through September 2017 was just under 85,000 megawatts: West Virginia’s six wind projects, however, account for only 686 of those megawatts and generate just 1.9 percent of in-state energy production. AWEA says the Mountain State ranks 25th nationally. By comparison, Texas, ranked No. 1, has 136 working wind projects with nearly 12,500 . . . Complete story »
Property owner alleges New Creek Wind turbines’ noise causes headaches
ELKINS – The owner of property in New Creek alleges wind turbines erected near his property generate noise that has caused him harm. William D. Benton Jr. filed a complaint Jan. 25 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia against New Creek Wind LLC, formerly AES New Creek LLC; Everpower Wind Holdings Inc. (Everpower); and Enbridge Holdings LLC alleging nuisance and negligence. According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that he experienced negative effects, including being . . . Complete story »
Senator wants end to wind power tax breaks
CHARLESTON – For state Sen. Randy Smith, 18 years is long enough for tax breaks on wind power projects. One of the many bills Smith, R-Tucker, has introduced during this year’s legislative session is to repeal the tax break the wind power companies receive. West Virginia has hundreds of windmills dotting the skylines, and, according to Smith, communities are missing out on thousands of tax dollars. “Usually when we grant a tax break, there is a sunset law limiting it for . . . Complete story »
Appalachian defends wind farm pursuit, says benefits are underestimated
There’s less risk for Appalachian Power customers to be hit with a long-term rate hike from the company’s two planned wind farm purchases than outside parties project, company staff members argued in recent filings with the state Public Service Commission. Randall Short, a member of the PSC’s independent staff, and Stephen Baron, a representative of the West Virginia Energy Users Group, recently argued in filings that the benefits of buying the wind farms are “overstated” and customers would be better . . . Complete story »
Cost, necessity concerns raised in Appalachian’s push to buy wind farms
Neither of Appalachian Power’s two planned wind farm purchases have garnered much support in recent filings with the state Public Service Commission. In July, the electric utility announced its intent to buy a West Virginia and an Ohio wind farm to continue its shift “to an energy company of the future,” Appalachian President Chris Beam said at the time. But filings from the West Virginia Energy Users Group, an association of industrial utility customers with heavy energy use, and the . . . Complete story »
PSC staff wants Appalachian Power to specify wind farm purchases’ effect on rates
Appalachian Power’s plans to purchase two wind farms is facing scrutiny early in the approval process from the independent staff of the state Public Service Commission, specifically regarding a lack of notice to customers on how much the acquisitions would affect their electric bills. The utility is proposing to finance the acquisitions of the Beech Ridge II Wind Facility in Greenbrier County (50 megawatts of power) and the Hardin Wind Facility in Hardin County, Ohio (175 megawatts) via a construction . . . Complete story »
Two lawsuits filed against New Creek Wind for wind turbine noise
ELKINS – Two lawsuits have been filed against New Creek Wind after the plaintiffs claim its wind turbines are noisy. Everpower Wind Holdings Inc.; and Enbridge Holdings LLC were also named as defendants in the suits. On Dec. 19, 2008, the predecessor to New Creek applied to the West Virginia Public Service Commission for approval to construct a commercial wind generation facility and, prior to Nov. 1, 2016, the defendants notified WVPSC that they planned to begin commercial operations of . . . Complete story »
Appalachian Power hopes to buy 2 wind power facilities
Appalachian Power Co. announced Wednesday that it hopes to acquire two wind power projects – one in Ohio and one in West Virginia – to add more renewable energy sources to the electric utility’s portfolio. If regulators approve the purchases, these two wind farms will be the first two directly owned and operated by Appalachian, which has long relied on coal for the bulk of its power generation. The 175-megawatt Hardin Wind Facility will be in Hardin County, Ohio, and the 50-megawatt . . . Complete story »
WV Senate votes to repeal wind turbine tax cut
The West Virginia state Senate on Saturday voted to repeal a tax cut for wind power projects in the state. The body voted 25-6 to pass SB 16, which would revoke wind turbines’ classification in the tax code as pollution control facilities. Current law has turbines taxed at 5 percent of their value. Sen. Randy Smith, R-Tucker, spoke in favor of the bill. He said when the Legislature created the tax break in 2001, it should have added a sunset . . . Complete story »
