News
Environmental impact of wind farm concerns commissioners
The speakers were met with a bit of skepticism, however, as Commissioner Wayne Spiggle questioned them about their proposed relationship with existing industries and the possible environmental impact on winged creatures.
January 25, 2006
by Liz Beavers, Staff Writer
in Times-News
KEYSER, W.Va. - Plans are progressing for the proposed establishment of a wind mill farm on Green Mountain in Mineral County and representatives of US WindForce LLC met with the county commissioners Tuesday to offer an update on what their company has accomplished toward their goal.
The speakers were met with a bit of skepticism, however, as Commissioner Wayne Spiggle questioned them about their proposed relationship with existing industries and the possible environmental impact on winged creatures.
James Cookman, vice president of project development for US WindForce, and Joseph E. Trainor, vice president of operations, were mostly upbeat about the project, however.
“We have been conducting wind studies on Green Mountain for the past three years ... and indications are that sufficient wind is present to support a project,” Cookman told the officials.
Once the proposed wind mill farm is in place, Cookman said he anticipated the equipment would have the ability to generate up to 125 megawatts of electricity.
“To put that into perspective,” Trainor said, “that would equal out to the average usage of about 40,000 average-size homes.”
Cookman said the construction phase of the wind mills is “expected to generate about 200 jobs for one whole construction season,” and once the mills are operational, there would be “between 10 and 12 full-time well-paying high-tech jobs which would continue throughout the life of the project.”
The men also contended that establishment of the wind mill farm in Mineral County would create a number of manufacturing-type jobs as state and local industries expand their operations to include the creation of equipment needed for the wind mills.
“These projects provide a significant opportunity for the state of West Virginia to step up to the plate and develop industries for manufacturing and assembly,” Cookman said. “It will be a home run opportunity.”
It was not until Cookman mentioned two area industries that he said had expressed interest in expanding into wind mill assembly, however, that Spiggle spoke up.
“I have information that would not confirm that,” he said. “I think you need to talk to them again.”
Spiggle also questioned the men if they had done any environmental studies as to the impact the wind mills would have on the flyways and migratory routes of any birds or bats in the area.
“At this specific time, we have not conducted that research yet,” Cookman said, adding that US WindForce hopes to begin its environmental study in the third quarter of this year.
“We want to be good environmental stewards for the people of West Virginia,” Trainor said.
Referring to a recent story in the Times-News that reported that the Mountaineer Wind Energy Center in Tucker County had resulted in the death of an estimated 1,364 bats during a six-week period in 2004, Keyser resident Grace Rotruck later thanked the commissioners for their line of questioning in regard to the environmental impact of the proposed wind farm. “And we will continue to ask questions,”
Commission President Cindy Pyles told her.
The speakers were met with a bit of skepticism, however, as Commissioner Wayne Spiggle questioned them about their proposed relationship with existing industries and the possible environmental impact on winged creatures.
James Cookman, vice president of project development for US WindForce, and Joseph E. Trainor, vice president of operations, were mostly upbeat about the project, however.
“We have been conducting wind studies on Green Mountain for the past three years ... and indications are that sufficient wind is present to support a project,” Cookman told the officials.
Once the proposed wind mill farm is in place, Cookman said he anticipated the equipment would have the ability to generate up to 125 megawatts of electricity.
“To put that into perspective,” Trainor said, “that would equal out to the average usage of about 40,000 average-size homes.”
Cookman said the construction phase of the wind mills is “expected to generate about 200 jobs for one whole construction season,” and once the mills are operational, there would be “between 10 and 12 full-time well-paying high-tech jobs which would continue throughout the life of the project.”
The men also contended that establishment of the wind mill farm in Mineral County would create a number of manufacturing-type jobs as state and local industries expand their operations to include the creation of equipment needed for the wind mills.
“These projects provide a significant opportunity for the state of West Virginia to step up to the plate and develop industries for manufacturing and assembly,” Cookman said. “It will be a home run opportunity.”
It was not until Cookman mentioned two area industries that he said had expressed interest in expanding into wind mill assembly, however, that Spiggle spoke up.
“I have information that would not confirm that,” he said. “I think you need to talk to them again.”
Spiggle also questioned the men if they had done any environmental studies as to the impact the wind mills would have on the flyways and migratory routes of any birds or bats in the area.
“At this specific time, we have not conducted that research yet,” Cookman said, adding that US WindForce hopes to begin its environmental study in the third quarter of this year.
“We want to be good environmental stewards for the people of West Virginia,” Trainor said.
Referring to a recent story in the Times-News that reported that the Mountaineer Wind Energy Center in Tucker County had resulted in the death of an estimated 1,364 bats during a six-week period in 2004, Keyser resident Grace Rotruck later thanked the commissioners for their line of questioning in regard to the environmental impact of the proposed wind farm. “And we will continue to ask questions,”
Commission President Cindy Pyles told her.
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