Published: April 03, 2009 10:23 pm      

State PSC won’t reconsider Beech Ridge wind farm OK

Opponents of a large wind farm project in Greenbrier and Nicholas counties have been rebuffed once again by the state Public Service Commission.

In an opinion issued Friday, the PSC denied petitions for reconsideration of the regulatory body’s Feb. 13 approval of a siting certificate for the Beech Ridge Energy LLC project. The petitions were filed by Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy (MCRE) and Jeffrey and Alicia Eisenbeiss.

In the order, the PSC proclaims “no reason has been presented to change” the siting certificate decision.

“The MCRE petition to reconsider does no more than ask the commission to reach a different decision, based upon another review of the same evidence,” the order explains.

It continues, “We reject the argument that the Eisenbeisses’ rights will be denied” by the PSC’s agreement that Beech Ridge be required to provide notice if the project is ever found to have violated any of three federal environmental statutes.

John Stroud, co-chair of MCRE, had not yet seen the order when contacted by The Register-Herald for comment Friday afternoon, but said he was not surprised by the PSC’s action.

“We expected their order,” he said, pledging, “We’re not done fighting this. This isn’t the end.”

The Beech Ridge project involves the proposed construction of 124 giant wind turbines along a ridge line located roughly 9 miles northeast of Rupert in Greenbrier County, along with a 138-kilovolt transmission line with a terminal in Nettie, Nicholas County.

Dave Groberg, vice president of development for Invenergy LLC, the Chicago-based energy company behind the Beech Ridge project, expressed satisfaction with the PSC’s denial of the reconsideration request.

“This case, in all its forms, has lasted nearly four years, and has resulted in the Beech Ridge Wind Farm undergoing the most intense scrutiny every given to a West Virginia wind project by state and federal regulators and the state’s Supreme Court,” Groberg said.

“We are very pleased that the project has passed all of these tests and has been judged to be in the public interest.”

He added, “During the course of this case, the expansion of the wind energy industry has clearly become a much higher national priority, just as it has in West Virginia in light of Gov. Manchin’s efforts to promote renewable power sources. We look forward to West Virginia assuming its role as a national leader with a diversified portfolio of renewable and alternative energy sources available to customers.”

Groberg said, barring unforeseen delays, the company believes it can get the first 67 wind turbines up and running by the end of this year.

In addition to touting the renewable power source, Groberg hit on another topic close to the hearts of many West Virginians — jobs.

“It is our intention to move immediately forward with the construction of the project,” he said. “We are ready to do our part to improve the current difficult economic conditions in Greenbrier County, including hiring skilled West Virginia construction workers this month.”

Groberg said the company has already concluded an agreement to sell the energy from the first wave of turbines to Appalachian Power.

“The sooner we can get the project constructed and online, the quicker new jobs, green power and tax dollars will begin flowing into West Virginia and Greenbrier County,” Groberg said.

The PSC ordered that the case be removed from its active docket.

— E-mail: talvey@register-herald.com