Published: September 16, 2009 07:20 am      

Commissioners hear info on possible Pluto wind farm project

Raleigh County commissioners interrupted their regular meeting Tuesday to host a public information hearing regarding a proposed Pluto wind farm.

“This is just basically a public hearing today, no decision (will be) made on anything,” commission president John Humphrey said. “We opened up the public hearing today to let the people know what has been proposed.”

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.”

Jobs Project is a Williamson-based group responsible for developing wind farm and biomass sites in Appalachia.

Both produce renewable energy sources.

Mathis said his group was working with the 4-C Economic Development Authority to identify possible sites for wind farms.

No development has yet been planned for the Long property, according to Mathis.

“Earl Long’s family land is in pre-development phase,” Mathis added after the meeting. “It’s an example of a community having interest in a wind farm, but it’s not an example of a wind farm being moved into the development phase.”

For the project to move to the development phase, Mathis said, a series of hearings would first occur.

Construction would begin 2 to 31/2 years after the site had been identified, he said.

Mathis said his group was not moving forward with any wind farm plans yet.

“Earl Long has expressed an interest,” he said. “We’re just ... gauging community interest.

“We’re in the stages of gauging transmission lines, finding where transmission lines are ... and trying to identify land owners that have possible wind and seeing if they’re interested.”

The next step in the process will be studying preliminary side effects, he said.

Mathis said he would like the public to understand the Jobs Project is not a “radical environmental group.”

“We are involved in community development,” he added.

Humphrey said wind and solar power are “here to stay.”

“There’s no doubt, it’s here,” he added. “If we do end up landing a wind farm in Raleigh County, we want it to be in an area that really doesn’t affect the people.

“You don’t want to crunch up on your neighbor and get everybody upset.”

One of Long’s neighbors, Robert Bragg of Pluto, said he attended the meeting to find out about the proposed wind farm.

“At this point, I don’t see any reason to pursue anything further, until it’s determined this site would be selected for a wind farm,” he said.

Commissioner John Aliff read a letter e-mailed from James K. Earl of Pennsylvania to the commission.

Earl, a Pluto property owner, said he did not permit access to his land or use of its resources.

“It’s really pretty much as of today dead in the water with us, until we hear back from (Jobs Project officials),” Humphrey said. “As of today, as far as this commission is concerned, it’s over until we hear from someone to move forward.”

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In other action, commissioners approved the names of three new streets: Gennie Drive in Pluto, Bob’s Way in Ghent and Breezeway Court, off Stanaford Road.

Aliff noted after the meeting that construction on the judicial annex across from the Raleigh Courthouse was progressing. Concrete has been poured for the elevator shaft and stairways.

“In a short period of time, we’ll start seeing more steel being erected,” Aliff said. “Hopefully, less than a year, you might see a building.”

— E-mail: jfarrish@register-herald.com