Published: August 28, 2006 11:04 pm         

PSC OKs Greenbrier County wind farm

In a stinging defeat for groups opposed to a 124-turbine wind farm slated for north-central Greenbrier County, the state Public Service Commission on Monday approved the $300 million Beech Ridge Energy project saying the nation’s need for clean, renewable energy outweighed its negative impacts to the local community.

The three-man commission issued its 92-page decision — complete with 25 separate conditions of approval — about 6 p.m. and published its findings on its Website.

Despite opposition from several groups, past and present members of Congress and such heavy hitters as The Greenbrier, the commission gave the green light for the Chicago-based company Invenergy to build a wind farm on a 23-mile stretch of ridgeline owned by MeadWestvaco.

“This case has been very difficult. Many people and organizations have objected to this project. Their concerns have been sincere, eloquently presented, and have been brought before us in public comment throughout the entirety of this proceeding,” the order stated. “A peaceful home, attractive surroundings, steady or increasing property values, and so forth, are universal goals.

“The Commission must though balance these ideals against other common objectives, such as to increase the proportion of power generated by renewable resources, to provide power without generating harmful emissions, and to advance the state and local economies. The law also requires the Commission to consider Beech Ridge’s interests.”

Beech Ridge expects to produce enough electricity for 50,000 homes from their 186-megawatt wind farm. The Commission agreed with Beech Ridge’s long-held assertion that future demand for power will be outstripped by the nation’s aging generating capacity.

Beech Ridge intends to connect its turbines to a national electric power grid and sell its electricity on the open market.

“No one has disputed that energy is needed in the east coast region, where it is estimated that the reserve margin — the difference between existing capacity to generate power and demand for electric power — will be reduced from 18.3 percent in 2005, to as low as 4.1 percent in 2014, causing the region to exceed its reliability design limit,” the order stated. “Further, generating capacity for this region is aging, with as much as 76 percent of the generating facilities older than 30 years, and 36 percent older than 40 years by 2010.”

And what of the argument made by the opposition that Beech Ridge is another carpetbagger, swooping into the state and robbing it of its resources, and making huge profits while the state stands to gain little in comparison? Many argued because the electricity is being shipped out of state, the windfarm should be built elsewhere.

While the Commission said the project “will not produce very many permanent jobs,” it touted the $400,000 in annual taxes to the county, and $200,000 annually to the state, which Beech Ridge is expected to fork over for the next 20 years. The project will produce 200 part-time jobs during construction and 15-20 full-time jobs with salaries around $35,000 each.

“It is not in the public interest for this Commission to isolate West Virginia from the region,” the order said. “The power grid is interconnected, and to safeguard the availability of a productive, well-maintained grid to our state’s residents, West Virginia must participate in the interconnected electric system.”

“For these reasons, the Commission should conclude that the eastern United State needs additional electricity generally, and in particular electricity generated from renewable resources.”

Beech Ridge project director Dave Groberg said he was pleased with the PSC’s decision and is looking forward to its construction phase.

“While we have not had a chance to completely digest the entire order yet, and we probably ought to sleep on it, all of the Commission’s conditions appear to be reasonable,” Groberg said Monday evening. “This decision is consistent with what we’ve said all along. The Beech Ridge Wind Farm will be good for Greenbrier County, West Virginia and the USA.

“I think West Virginian’s should feel confident that the government’s rules for deciding whether or not to give wind energy developers permission to build are comprehensive and balanced.”

Dave Brahman, spokesperson for Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy, the leading voice against the project, issued this statement in regards to the PSC’s monumental decision.

“MCRE is currently reviewing the PSC decision and discussing it with our lawyer,” he said. “We will be happy to comment as soon as we have finished this process.”

The Commission also disregarded the arguments that wind turbines will spoil the county’s spectacular scenic views and disrupt the estimated $231 million which the tourism industry generates annually. The order said no expert testimony supported such claims and the only people putting forth such arguments were the folks against the project.

“Thus, the Commission finds that such testimony is biased on speculation or conjecture,” the order said.

The Commission also agreed with former Charleston Mayor and real estate expert Jay Goldman, who testified that “concerns about property values declining were not justified” in areas where wind turbines will be built.

The Commission further concluded that hiking, hunting and picnicking will be “minimally disrupted” in the proposed project areas.

Among the conditional provisions set by the PSC prior to construction includes: All construction activity must take place during daylight hours; the siting certificate will become invalid if construction doesn’t begin within five years; compliance with the federal Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act; post-construction bat and bird kill studies; and posting a decommission bond sufficient to cover the costs of dismantling the turbines.

The Commission also directed that approximately 12 turbines shall not be built unless “all property owners agree to participate in the project.” At least one of the property owners affected has steadfastly rejected the project.

Invenergy plans to build their 400-foot-tall turbines on Big Ridge, Nunly Mountain, Ellis Knob, Old Field, Beech Ridge, Rockcamp Ridge, Shellcamp Ridge and parts of Cold Knob.

— E-mail:

cgiggenbach@register-herald.com