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/9324 Thu, 03 May 2007 12:32:48 GMT Windmill turbines form a wind farm on Backbone Mountain near Thomas, West Virginia http://www.windaction.org/articles/9324 http://www.windaction.org/articles/6702 Mon, 27 Nov 2006 22:48:44 GMT Dan Boone created this image using the digital USGS 7.5-minute topographic map mosaic for Grant County, WV (from NRCS Geospatial Data Gateway) and plotted the wind turbine locations for the 2 windplants –US WindForce (250 MW) and NedPower (300 MW) – which were approved for siting near Mount Storm, WV in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Turbine locations were based on the lat-long coordinates provided in FAA's 7460-1 database for these facilities in 2006 and for turbines planned in 2002 (NedPower only). US WindForce’s wind turbine locations as planned in 2002 were based on their application to the WV Public Service Commission. http://www.windaction.org/articles/6702 http://www.windaction.org/articles/6701 Mon, 27 Nov 2006 22:43:11 GMT https://www.oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaaEXT/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=460650 (2006) and
https://www.oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaaEXT/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=242479 (2002) .
Note that the 82 wind turbines proposed to FAA in 2006 are slated to be 388 feet in overall height (from ground level to highest point of rotor). There were 155 wind turbines proposed to FAA in 2002. However, in 2003 the WV Public Service Commission did not approve the southern phase of NedPower’s proposed windplant due to concerns over visual impact to Dolly Sods Wilderness Area. Nonetheless, NedPower’s windplant was authorized by the WV PSC to construct up to 200 industrial wind turbines in the central and northern portions of the project area so long as the project’s total generating capacity did not exceed 300 MW. NedPower sold its development rights to this windplant in 2006 to Shell’s wind energy division. ]]> Dan Boone created this image using the digital USGS 7.5-minute topographic map mosaic for Grant County, WV (from NRCS Geospatial Data Gateway) and plotted the wind turbine locations based on the lat-long coordinates provided in FAA's 7460-1 database for this facility in 2006 and for turbines planned in 2002 - e.g., https://www.oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaaEXT/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=460650 (2006) and https://www.oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaaEXT/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=242479 (2002) . Note that the 82 wind turbines proposed to FAA in 2006 are slated to be 388 feet in overall height (from ground level to highest point of rotor). There were 155 wind turbines proposed to FAA in 2002. However, in 2003 the WV Public Service Commission did not approve the southern phase of NedPower’s proposed windplant due to concerns over visual impact to Dolly Sods Wilderness Area. Nonetheless, NedPower’s windplant was authorized by the WV PSC to construct up to 200 industrial wind turbines in the central and northern portions of the project area so long as the project’s total generating capacity did not exceed 300 MW. NedPower sold its development rights to this windplant in 2006 to Shell’s wind energy division. http://www.windaction.org/articles/6701 http://www.windaction.org/articles/9945 Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:40:38 GMT Windmill turbines sit on a wind farm near Thomas, West Virginia, August 28, 2006. http://www.windaction.org/articles/9945 http://www.windaction.org/articles/2231 Mon, 27 Mar 2006 13:37:13 GMT Artist Paula Stahl, who lives within earshot of the Tucker County windmills, says they've scared off wildlife. http://www.windaction.org/articles/2231 http://www.windaction.org/articles/1477 Fri, 03 Feb 2006 19:34:51 GMT http://www.windaction.org/articles/1477 http://www.windaction.org/articles/381 Thu, 01 Jan 2004 05:00:00 GMT motorist drives past two of the 44 turbines (@1.5MW & approx. 340' tall) of the Mountaineer wind plant http://www.windaction.org/articles/381 http://www.windaction.org/articles/504 Wed, 01 Jan 1997 05:00:00 GMT Jon Boone's Comments regarding Mountaineer (WV) Before (this image), Mountaineer (WV) After (1), and Mountaineer (WV) After (2).

The first two images (i.e. Before and After 1) show the extensive forest-interior habitat that existed before the windplant was constructed and the resulting impacts following construction in late 2002. The third image (i.e. After 2) shows the southern half of the windplant (about 22 turbines) and identifies the boundaries of the study area for the pre- vs. post-construction analysis. It also shows that the study area I chose was fairly representative of the existing habitat conditions at this windplant and gives a better view of the magnitude of the development’s impacts on forest and especially forest-interior habitat. [Forest interior is the type of habitat that exists at more than 100 meters from a clearing. Forest interior is required for the survival of certain species and is the type of habitat most easily destroyed by any form of development.] On the portion of the site that I analyzed, the construction of this wind factory cleared over 42 acres of forest for the string of eight turbines (out of 44) that I analyzed. The extensive fragmentation of habitat resulting from the 50-ft-wide service road and the 5+ acres (average) that were bulldozed to erect each turbine caused the loss of over 150 acres of forest-interior conditions within this once-contiguous forest tract. My estimate is that a complete analysis of the entire project area, including 5.5 miles of ridgetop and 44 turbines, would find a total of nearly 200 acres of forest were cleared and over 750 acres of forest-interior habitat was lost following construction of the Mountaineer wind energy facility. ]]> Site of a portion of the Mountaineer Wind Energy Center in 1997, five years before the start of construction. This is a digital color infrared photograph, which explains the odd coloration. The red areas are the conifer tree species (spruce, pine and hemlock) which are highly reflective of infrared light. The photo was taken during the winter so the brown areas depict the bare deciduous forest, mostly northern hardwoods — maple, birch, cherry, and northern red oak. The green bar at lower left is a 100m [328 foot] scale. This study area was chosen to compare before and after conditions, illustrating the impact of this type of development. Jon Boone's Comments regarding Mountaineer (WV) Before (this image), Mountaineer (WV) After (1), and Mountaineer (WV) After (2). The first two images (i.e. Before and After 1) show the extensive forest-interior habitat that existed before the windplant was constructed and the resulting impacts following construction in late 2002. The third image (i.e. After 2) shows the southern half of the windplant (about 22 turbines) and identifies the boundaries of the study area for the pre- vs. post-construction analysis. It also shows that the study area I chose was fairly representative of the existing habitat conditions at this windplant and gives a better view of the magnitude of the development’s impacts on forest and especially forest-interior habitat. [Forest interior is the type of habitat that exists at more than 100 meters from a clearing. Forest interior is required for the survival of certain species and is the type of habitat most easily destroyed by any form of development.] On the portion of the site that I analyzed, the construction of this wind factory cleared over 42 acres of forest for the string of eight turbines (out of 44) that I analyzed. The extensive fragmentation of habitat resulting from the 50-ft-wide service road and the 5+ acres (average) that were bulldozed to erect each turbine caused the loss of over 150 acres of forest-interior conditions within this once-contiguous forest tract. My estimate is that a complete analysis of the entire project area, including 5.5 miles of ridgetop and 44 turbines, would find a total of nearly 200 acres of forest were cleared and over 750 acres of forest-interior habitat was lost following construction of the Mountaineer wind energy facility. http://www.windaction.org/articles/504 http://www.windaction.org/articles/503 GMT US Wind Force’s depiction of their Liberty Gap project planned for Jack Mountain in Pendleton County, WV. This view is looking south toward Highland County. Turbines will extend all the way to the state line and, if Highland gives approval, they could be extended further south. http://www.windaction.org/articles/503 http://www.windaction.org/articles/1523 GMT http://www.windaction.org/articles/1523 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23822 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:35:23 GMT Opponents of a Mineral County wind farm project maintain it will have little impact on the power grid and the reduction of greenhouse gases. Testimony began Monday in a West Virginia Public Service Commission evidentiary hearing on the Pinnacle Wind Force project. Plans are to build 23 wind turbines on top of Green Mountain near Mount Storm. Attorney Bradley Stephens, representing the opponents, questioned US Wind Force Vice President David Friend during Monday's proceedings. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23822 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23806 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:57:32 GMT A controversial wind farm project in Mineral County goes before the state Public Service Commission starting Monday. The PSC will hear evidence from Pinnacle Wind Force, the group hoping to build 23 wind turbines on top of Green Mountain near Mt. Storm. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23806 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23494 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:03:42 GMT A representative from AES provided the Barbour County Commission with an updated timeline for the wind turbine project and requested commissioners pass a resolution to appoint a company to conduct a decommission study to determine the cost to take the windmills down when the time comes. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23494 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23308 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:41:06 GMT Nearly 100 people attended West Virginia Public Service Commission's hearing on the Pinnacle Wind Farm, Thursday afternoon at the Mineral County Courthouse, with all but one of more than two dozen speakers backing the project for its economic impact, clean energy and even visual appeal. ...The deadline for a decision on the project is Jan. 11. If approved, WindForce officials hope to have the wind farm operational by the end of 2010. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23308 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23129 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:55:49 GMT Raleigh County commissioners interrupted their regular meeting Tuesday to host a public information hearing regarding a proposed Pluto wind farm. ...Although a property in Pluto owned by Earl Long has been identified as one possible spot for a wind farm known as Angel Winds, Jobs Project Director Eric Mathis was quick to point out the project was not currently "moving forward." http://www.windaction.org/articles/23129 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23120 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:18:43 GMT A proposed wind farm gets some countywide attention. Tuesday the Raleigh County Commission hosted a public hearing as a way to educate community members. Earl Long and his family want to install several wind turbines on their land in Pluto, but there are regulatory hoops to get through. It could take three years before anything happens. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23120 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23006 Sun, 06 Sep 2009 12:43:57 GMT The developers of a proposed large-scale wind turbine farm for Tazewell County have been quietly making progress high atop East River Mountain. A meteorological tower to study wind speed and direction has been erected on the mountain. A number of geo-technical studies, along with wildlife and avian studies, also are continuing at the Tazewell County site, Ryan Frazier, a senior communications specialist with Dominion Energy, said. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23006 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22980 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:06:53 GMT As Highland New Wind Development pushes to get roads installed and fields leveled for foundations, efforts to build its 38-megawatt wind-generating utility here aren't proceeding smoothly. Obstacles abound, in the form of legal challenges, allegations of not meeting state requirements, and an Erosion and Sediment control plan state officials have found lacking. All of that is coupled with an ongoing assertion from West Virginia officials who say Virginia, and Highland County, had no right to approve a facility that crosses state lines. http://www.windaction.org/articles/22980 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22968 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:55:43 GMT It's full steam ahead for a wind farm project in Greenbrier County. The state supreme court voted today to reject an appeal by Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy. http://www.windaction.org/articles/22968 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22923 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:47:54 GMT US WindForce will conduct the regular month meeting of its Community Advisory Panel Thursday night at the WindLea Banquet Center, with a state energy official to address the group on the eve of the West Virginia Public Service Commission's hearing on the proposed 23-turbine wind farm. Bill Willis, a program coordinator with the West Virginia Division of Energy, will be the guest speaker for the meeting. http://www.windaction.org/articles/22923