Citizen files 'Petition to Intervene' in wind farm project

Greenbrier County resident Michael A. Woelfel filed on Nov. 16 (with the state's Public Service Commission) a "Petition to Intervene" in the proposed construction of a 130-turbine wind farm on the ridges of northwestern Greenbrier County.

According to the petition, Woelfel owns 38 acres on Cold Knob Mountain in the Will-iamsburg District of the county and that his property is "adjacent to, or within the parameters of, the one mile radius generating facility Map filed by the applicant."

"Petitioner's real estate has a clear view of the scenic overlooks and projected views which would be adversely impacted by the proposed project" reads the petition.

The industrial park would also adversely affect the site of a "culturally significant event." Cold Knob Mountain, Trout Valley, Williamsburg Valley, and Sinking Creek constitute the scene of an 1862 Civil War battle known as the Sinking Creek Raid, the petition alleges.

Another charge is that the project site "lies within the viewship of the Monongalia National Forest."

In conclusion, the petition reads, "The proposed project would cause excessive noise exposure, vibrations in the earth, water runoff, and otherwise adversely affect the value of Petitioner's real estate. The subject project, if approved, would constitute a private nuisance with respect to the personal and property rights of Petitioner."

The wind farm is the project of Beech Ridge Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of Invenergy, a Chicago energy firm. County government has no role in the permitting process because the county has no zoning regulations.

The only hurdle for the energy company is the state’s PSC. The proposed project has generated vigorous and vocal opposition from residents in the affected areas.