http://www.windaction.org/ facts, analysis, exposure of wind energy's real impacts en-us Windaction hourly 1 http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.windaction.org/articles/17488 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:00:33 GMT Commercial wind projects in the Appalachian region are typically built in strings of about seven turbines per mile along ridge crests. This map shows the potential for 88 miles of turbine strings on Bath County ridges. Possible development sites occur within Wind Power Class 3 through 7, and were derived from resource maps obtained from the National Renewable Energy Lab. Of the possible turbine sites in Bath County Virginia, 52 percent are located on national forest land and 12 percent are located on The Nature Conservancy's Warm Springs Mountain Preserve; 25 percent of the total possible turbine sites are presumably off limits, including all of those in TNC's preserve and about one-third of those on national forest. The identification of national forest lands as "suitable" or "unsuitable" is based on the draft management plan for the George Washington National Forest. http://www.windaction.org/articles/17488 http://www.windaction.org/articles/7914 Tue, 13 Feb 2007 12:39:50 GMT A plan to put 19 wind turbines in an area of Highland County, Va. has prompted debate. http://www.windaction.org/articles/7914 http://www.windaction.org/articles/2070 Thu, 16 Mar 2006 17:56:08 GMT Monterey is the county seat of Highland County whose mountains and climate have local boosters calling it "Virginia's Little Switzerland." http://www.windaction.org/articles/2070 http://www.windaction.org/articles/24140 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:37:12 GMT Although the official public hearing was delayed until January, area residents still spoke out Tuesday over the controversial topic of wind turbines. "How are we guaranteed that so many jobs will be created?" Mark Tyson of Tazewell, said. "We have to take the word of BP and Dominion - the same people who funded 50 percent of this study." "As far as this study is concerned, I know it is an economic impact study, but I pray there will be other studies you all will look at other than economics," Donna Kelly of Bluefield, Va., said. "It's not all just about money. I feel a few will profit from this but the majority will suffer." http://www.windaction.org/articles/24140 http://www.windaction.org/articles/24138 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:32:00 GMT The long-awaited wind energy study compiled by Springsted Inc., was released on Monday. While it didn't include a lot of surprises, it did come with plenty of statistics, projections and hypothetical scenarios related to wind turbine farms. ...While it doesn't provide a lot of new details, the Springsted study still provides a lot of information for folks to digest. The official public hearing on the proposed mountain construction ordinance, also known as the mountain ridge protection ordinance, will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 6:15 p.m. or soon thereafter at Tazewell High School. http://www.windaction.org/articles/24138 http://www.windaction.org/articles/24112 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:04:31 GMT A proposed wind turbine farm for East River Mountain would provide $9.2 million in new revenue to Tazewell County over a 20 year period, according to the findings of a new wind energy economic impact study. The study, which was made public Monday through the county's website, will be discussed in detail at tonight's Board of Supervisors meeting. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. at Tazewell Middle School with a wind turbine discussion scheduled for 7:30 p.m. http://www.windaction.org/articles/24112 http://www.windaction.org/articles/24087 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:56:53 GMT Tazewell County leaders will tackle the controversial topic of wind turbines Tuesday during the first of two meetings that could determine the fate of a controversial East River Mountain project. The board meets Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Tazewell Middle School, and will begin the wind turbine discussion at 7:30 p.m. At that time, John Anzivion, senior vice president of the Springsted Company, is scheduled to present the results of a wind turbine economic impact study to the board. http://www.windaction.org/articles/24087 http://www.windaction.org/articles/24003 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:43:59 GMT The newly elected members of the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors say they haven't made a decision yet when it comes to wind turbines on East River Mountain. "I'm going to have to research that a little bit better," John Absher, who defeated incumbent Bill Wimmer for the Western District board seat, said when asked about wind turbines. "I haven't made a decision on that one way or another. We are just going to have to talk about the pros and cons of it." Although the wind turbine project is not planned in his district, Absher said he has still had several questions from residents. http://www.windaction.org/articles/24003 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23990 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:32:27 GMT A hearing scheduled for November 10 at the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) regarding the Tamarack Ridge wind energy project has been postponed by request of the Virginia Department of Historical Resources (DHR). ...DHR requested the continuance until it has received the requested information from the Parks Service and had time to "review, analyze and consult with Highland New Wind about these reports." http://www.windaction.org/articles/23990 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23963 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:44:23 GMT As Virginia wrangles over the visual impact of 400-foot towers on nearby historic properties, a similar situation in West Virginia resulted in a $10,000 grant offer from a wind energy company building 23 wind turbines overlooking some 18 historic places in Mineral County. Not everyone agrees it's an appropriate solution, but Pinnacle Wind Force LLC offered to make that amount available for historic preservation efforts after the West Virginia Division of Culture and History (the State Historic Preservation Office) found its wind project would have an adverse impact on historic resources nearby. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23963 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23968 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:23:12 GMT West Virginia boundary commission members Charles Sypolt and Curt Keplinger visited Tamarack Ridge Saturday morning to inspect the site of a proposed industrial wind farm. ...Governor Manchin formed the boundary commission in September after the Pocahontas County Commission alerted him that the wind project might encroach into West Virginia territory. The county commission became concerned after the developer, Highland New Wind Development, LLC (HNWD), issued a site plan with the state line re-plotted on the base topographic map and two turbines very close to the re-plotted state line. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23968 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23721 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:13:08 GMT Several additional companies have inquired about the possibility of building windmills in Tazewell County, officials confirmed Monday. Although Dominion and BP Wind Energy North America are planning a large-scale wind turbine farm for East River Mountain near Bluefield, other areas of interest for other wind energy companies have included Morris Knob, near Tazewell, and Burkes Garden, according to Board of Supervisors Chairman David Anderson. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23721 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23772 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:17:02 GMT Late last Friday, before a hearing scheduled for Tuesday this week, Highland New Wind Development submitted further analysis of its wind project to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. The hearing was set by the State Corporation Commission following a complaint from DHR that a condition attached to HNWD's state permit for Virginia's first wind utility were not being met. DHR said it believed the SCC's condition to "coordinate with DHR for guidance regarding the potential need for archaeological and architectural surveys, recommended studies and field surveys to evaluate the project's impacts to historic resources," had meaning, and that HNWD was not coordinating with the agency as ordered. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23772 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23626 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:17:24 GMT The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) has rescheduled a hearing to determine whether a wind energy company has complied with pre-construction conditions regarding protection of historic resources. The hearing, originally scheduled for October 12, will be held on November 11 at 10 a.m. The hearing will be available as a webcast from the SCC website. The Virginia Attorney General's Office, representing DHR, filed a motion on October 9 to reschedule the hearing, which was granted by hearing examiner Alexander Skirpan. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23626 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23535 Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:52:48 GMT The SCC had scheduled the hearing on a complaint from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, which had accused Highland New Wind Development of failing to consult with it on how the wind farm will affect the nearby Camp Allegheny battlefield. But on Friday, Highland New Wind provided two preliminary studies to the Department of Historic Resources, according to a motion filed with the SCC late in the day. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23535 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23483 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:43:54 GMT Albemarle County Planning Commission members sent a clear message Tuesday: The county should allow wind turbines. Turbines are prohibited in Albemarle, but the Planning Commission unanimously approved a resolution calling for the county to allow small power-generating wind turbines. However, some specifics about where turbines should be allowed and what restrictions should be established were left up in the air. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23483 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23493 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:59:20 GMT A long-awaited wind energy economic impact study for Tazewell County could be ready as early as next week. ...Following a five-minute recess in Tuesday's meeting, [County Administrator Jim] Spencer told media representatives that he was told by Springsted officials on the telephone that the wind energy study wouldn't be finished until mid-October. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23493 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23395 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 01:41:07 GMT York officials have taken the first steps toward crafting wind turbine regulations. At a Wednesday night Planning Commission work session, the five commissioners in attendance were unanimous in their support for regulations that would permit the use of wind turbines for generating electricity. During the lengthy discussion, commissioners differed on how regulations should be applied. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23395 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23396 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:49:27 GMT The company planning an industrial wind facility on Tamarack Ridge didn't want to talk about visual impact on Camp Allegheny when it seeks approval to build the 19 gigantic turbines. But a Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) hearing examiner ordered on September 23 that visual impact will be considered when the SCC hears arguments over the company's compliance with permit conditions. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23396 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23325 Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:38:26 GMT The Planning Commission will consider during a work session next week whether York County should create a zoning ordinance allowing wind turbines in neighborhoods. ...Planning staff suggest proceeding slowly. "The lack of any first-hand, real-world experience with wind turbines anywhere in the region probably calls for a cautious approach," one document cautions. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23325