Wind Energy Project Begins in Greenbrier County (Poca: construction jobs, bankrupt)

[snorpus]

Beech Ridge Energy has begun preliminary construction on a 119 turbine, 186 megawatt wind energy project in northern Greenbrier County. The $300 million project is expected to provide about 20 permanent and 200 construction jobs.

While the project has met all PSC requirements, an appeal is expected to be filed by Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy, which claims the adverse economic and environmental effects will outweigh the benefits of the wind turbines.

Complete story at the Pocahontas Times.

[David Kennedy]

This deal was cut last fall...will be on schedule. 3 million a piece? Who's getting the money? ha ha ha

[DinahMills]

I think wind energy is an excellent idea. most Tucker Countians do not believe it is a problem.

[David Kennedy]

A distinct parallel here..Years ago the fields and hillsides of Wv were dotted with ' auto junkyards and huge satelite dishes.

Now we are begining to create the 'Junkyards of the future.

When these white whirlybirds fall from favor, their companies will bankrupt and leave them to rust into the ground and topple over.

[Newtgirl]

The 'junkyard' created by a wind turbine is a lot less visually unappealing than completely destroying a mountain from the inside out, and then replanting it with fescue and black locust. At least derelict wind turbines will be covered by trees. Denuded mountains... they get covered by invasive species.

Realistically, I do not see sustainable energy 'falling out of favor'. The truth is that eventually, we will be out of fossil fuels. It may not be today, or tomorrow, but some day, there won't be any left. We'll have to find some way to power our gadgets and gizmos other than burning black gold.

[GraniteStater]

You do realize that technologies are now being developed and implemented to recycle the turbine blades once the lifecycle of the wind farm has ended.

[snorpus]

At least with wind turbines, if they don't work out, they can be uninstalled relatively easy. Let's hope somebody thought to get the company to obtain a bond to ensure removal.

Just about any form of energy facility is "ugly", or at least disturbs the pristine appearance of its location. You just have to take your pick. Oil wells and refineries, coal mines and thermal power plants, uranium mines and N-plants, acres and acres of photovoltaic cells, hydrogen, biodiesel, natural gas... I doubt we all want to move entirely off the grid (there goes the Intarweb ), and probably for 90% of the U.S. population, not practical anyway.

Personally, I find the wind towers rather majestic looking, much like, say, a 2-10-4 coal-fired locomotive.

[GraniteStater]

A properly sited wind energy facility is sustainable while mountaintop removal is not.

[Newtgirl]

Originally Posted by snorpus

Personally, I find the wind towers rather majestic looking, much like, say, a 2-10-4 coal-fired locomotive.

Amen Brotha!