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NEWS
W.Va. Supreme Court approves of wind farm permit
By KELLEY GILLENWATER
Associated Press Writer
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Plans to build a 124-turbine wind farm on a West Virginia ridgeline won critical support Monday from the state Supreme Court, which upheld a conditional permit already approved by the state Public Service Commission.
The justices ruled Monday in support of the permit, after hearing arguments in January on the $300 million proposal by Beech Ridge Energy LLC.
Chicago-based Invenergy, owner of Beech Ridge, wants to place the wind turbines along a 23-mile stretch of ridgeline owned by Stamford, Conn.-based MeadWestvaco.
The 186-megawatt facility would be located nine miles northeast of Rupert and would be connected to Allegheny Power’s Grassy Falls substation in Nicholas County via a 13.8-mile transmission line.
The PSC approved the permit in August 2006, despite challenges. The agency attached 25 conditions, including limiting noise, lighting and construction hours at the site. It also called for studies on the impact on bats and birds.
A group of local residents calling itself the Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy, along with Jeffrey and Alicia Eisenbeiss of Renick, challenged the permit. They charged, in part, that the PSC’s application permit didn’t include input from opponents on such matters as the area’s cultural and historical importance.
In their filing, the justices said they “believe that the commission properly estimated the impact of the project on places of historic, scenic, religious, or cultural significance before granting a certificate to Beech Ridge.”
Frank Maisano, a spokesman for wind developers in the mid-Atlantic, called the decision a “great victory” for the industry.
“It shows you that you can’t be opposed to these projects just because you don’t like them,” he said. “The PSC has done detailed work and dotted the I’s and crossed the T’s and made a decision which takes advantage of the opportunities with wind and West Virginia will benefit.”
Beech Ridge said the project will create more than 200 temporary construction jobs and 15 to 20 permanent, well-paying jobs. It is expected to generate at least $200,000 in annual tax revenue for the state.
“This project is important to the economy of Greenbrier County and we appreciate the support we have received from the citizens of that region and from all around West Virginia,” according to a statement from Dave Groberg, Invenergy’s director of development.
The company is “interested in moving forward” and “will be considering any future actions that we must take in meeting the Public Service Commission’s requirements,” he added.
Messages left for Justin St. Clair, the lawyer for Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy, and for Jeffrey Eisenbeiss, were not immediately returned.
