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Two join to fight wind farm in Greenbrier

The Norman Transcript|Christian Giggenbach, The Register-Herald|May 17, 2006
West VirginiaGeneral

Heavy hitters file letters asking PCS to deny application


WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Two heavy hitters have joined the fight against a proposed wind farm in Greenbrier County. The Greenbrier and The Greenbrier Sporting Club have filed formal letters asking the Public Service Commission to deny the siting application of Beech Ridge Energy.

Beech Ridge officials say The Greenbrier’s arguments against the wind farm are without merit.

Ted Kleisner, president and managing director of the resort, and Larry Klein, general manager of The Sporting Club, filed the letters last week giving rise to concerns the 124-turbine, $300 million wind farm could negatively affect their businesses and the community.

“We believe we have a legitimate interest in any project that might impact our property, our …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Two heavy hitters have joined the fight against a proposed wind farm in Greenbrier County. The Greenbrier and The Greenbrier Sporting Club have filed formal letters asking the Public Service Commission to deny the siting application of Beech Ridge Energy.

Beech Ridge officials say The Greenbrier’s arguments against the wind farm are without merit.

Ted Kleisner, president and managing director of the resort, and Larry Klein, general manager of The Sporting Club, filed the letters last week giving rise to concerns the 124-turbine, $300 million wind farm could negatively affect their businesses and the community.

“We believe we have a legitimate interest in any project that might impact our property, our business or the quality of life in Greenbrier County that is so much a part of the experience of visiting The Greenbrier,” Kleisner wrote. “We, therefore, wish to express our disappointment and concern that we were not consulted as to the Beech Ridge project in its planning stages. We wish to express our deep concern that the full visual impact of the Beech Ridge project on the Greenbrier Valley community was not adequately disclosed by the applicant.”

Kleisner added The Greenbrier, which is the largest employer in the county, is open to ideas of renewable energy, but suggests locating a wind farm here could have adverse effects on the community. He said the project has not been sufficiently studied.

“... we feel the need to state our concern that the Beech Ridge project has not been adequately studied and that there has been inadequate consultation with the community, including The Greenbrier,” he wrote. “There is far too much at risk in potential impact on quality of life to approve such a large project without thorough study and comprehensive consultation with the community.”

The Greenbrier Sporting Club, a billion-dollar gated community slated to construct 500 homes, echoed similar arguments against the wind farm saying the project will hurt their real estate development.

“The Greenbrier Sporting Club is the largest economic development project in the state, projected to have a $5 billion impact on the state’s economy over the construction phase of the project,” general manager Larry Klein wrote. “We believe the Beech Ridge project will have a negative impact on the natural and unspoiled beauty of the Greenbrier Valley and surrounding region and, as a result, a negative impact on our real estate development.”

Beech Ridge officials maintain property values will not be affected by the construction of the wind farm and testimony is expected this week from Realtor and former Charleston Mayor Jay Goldman to that effect. Beech Ridge project director Dave Groberg said his company has made many good will efforts to keep The Greenbrier apprised of the wind farm project.

“It’s impossible to imagine that Beech Ridge will have any effect on The Greenbrier or The Greenbrier Sporting Club given the fact there are many mountains and many miles which separate the two properties. It’s not physically possible for the wind farm to be seen from any points within The Greenbrier or The Greenbrier Sporting Club.” Groberg said Monday.

“Beech Ridge invited the general manager of The Greenbrier to attend the very first series of briefings on the project in early July of 2005 and we have made repeated efforts to meet with The Greenbrier since then and all have either been rebuffed or ignored.”

Groberg also said letters of support have been filed with the PSC from the Midland Trail Scenic Highway Association which promotes tourism and economic development along the 180-mile stretch of U.S. 60 which runs from White Sulphur Springs to Kenova.

“We are convinced this project will enhance and not deter tourism in Greenbrier County,” Groberg said. “The Midland Trail Association is one of the prime promoters of tourism in western Greenbrier and Fayette counties.”

The Public Service Commission evidentiary hearings on the Beech Ridge project are scheduled to reconvene Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in Charleston.


Christian Giggenbach writes for The Register-Herald in Beckley, W.Va.



 


Source:http://www.normantranscript.c…

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