Windmills
Many of you know I am getting involved in the windmill debate here in Ashe County. Here is a reprint of the article that was posted in the Local section of the Winston-Salem Journal on Tuesday, February 6, 2007:
Guides for wind farm get initial OK
Ashe commissioners approve an ordinance for wind energy
By Monte Mitchell
JOURNAL REPORTER
JEFFERSON
Ashe County commissioners approved an ordinance yesterday to govern wind-energy systems, a response to a proposed commercial wind farm of 25 to 28 windmills.
There was no discussion by commissioners before the 4-0 vote, which followed a 90-minute public hearing. During the public hearing, 13 people spoke in opposition to the wind farm, 11 spoke in favor of it, and three people didn't take a position but offered suggestions for the proposed ordinance.
Before the hearing began, Ashe Board of Commissioners Chairman Richard Blackburn explained to the audience that the county's lack of a comprehensive land-use plan meant that commissioners could not ban windmills.
"The only thing that can happen is we can regulate," he said. "We cannot prohibit. That's a very significant thing to remember."
There's controversy about whether the state's Ridge Law prohibits wind turbines of an industrial scale.
The wind turbines would be more than 300 feet tall on or near Big Springs Mountain. The developer hasn't specified a model wind turbine, but said he would probably use a helicopter for much of the construction, according to testimony filed with the N.C. Utilities Commission.
Interpretation of the Ridge Law is key to whether the proposed wind farm would be allowed, both sides in the debate have said.
Ashe's ordinance includes a setback that says a large wind-energy system shall not be allowed within 1,700 feet of any home or commercial building.
Lou Zeller, of the Glendale Springs-based Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, told commissioners during the public hearing that a 1,700-foot setback would prohibit the proposed wind farm. He spoke in favor of wind energy and the wind farm.
Richard Calhoun, the former Ashe County commissioner who is proposing to build the wind farm, said during the hearing that Ashe and the other mountain counties are suited for wind energy.
"I'm convinced we can do this project without destruction of our beloved mountains," he said.
"Big Springs is a sacred place to me."
He said he believes the Ridge Law excludes windmills.
"These are windmills," he said. "I don't see the debate."
Calhoun, who sometimes was at odds with his fellow commissioners during his last term, reminded them that he loved a "good debate."
"Anything controversial I love," he said, in his opening remarks. In his closing remarks, he jokingly suggested a visual tax.
"Anyone who wants to look at our mountains could pay $1 per minute," he said. "Fair is fair."
Jay Vincent, a Blowing Rock-based Realtor and developer, said he uses the term "specialness" to describe what most people enjoy about Ashe.
"I know nobody likes to be told what to do with their land, but at times like this, comprehensive plans or regulations sure look good," he said. "The windmill farm will be very detrimental to the specialness of this county."
Vincent reminded the board that when he was telling commissioners last spring about plans to build a ski resort on Phoenix Mountain, that Calhoun was the only county commissioner to speak against it.
"He said he wanted Ashe County to stay the way it was," Vincent said.
Later in the hearing, Ann Rose, of Lansing, said she supports the windmills and is much more concerned about Phoenix Mountain. She said that the ski towers and lifts look similar to transmission poles and wires, but "we don't hear anybody complaining about their views."
The five-member board must approve the wind-energy ordinance on a second reading for it to become effective. Blackburn said they plan to consider it for second reading at their next regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 19. Commissioner Marty Gambill was absent yesterday.
The N.C. Utilities Commission, which will decide whether to issue the certificate of public convenience and necessity that would allow the project, will hold a public hearing on the matter at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 13 in Raleigh.
• Monte Mitchell can be reached in Wilkesboro at 336-667-5691 or at mmitchell@wsjournal.com.
Guides for wind farm get initial OK
Ashe commissioners approve an ordinance for wind energy
By Monte Mitchell
JOURNAL REPORTER
JEFFERSON
Ashe County commissioners approved an ordinance yesterday to govern wind-energy systems, a response to a proposed commercial wind farm of 25 to 28 windmills.
There was no discussion by commissioners before the 4-0 vote, which followed a 90-minute public hearing. During the public hearing, 13 people spoke in opposition to the wind farm, 11 spoke in favor of it, and three people didn't take a position but offered suggestions for the proposed ordinance.
Before the hearing began, Ashe Board of Commissioners Chairman Richard Blackburn explained to the audience that the county's lack of a comprehensive land-use plan meant that commissioners could not ban windmills.
"The only thing that can happen is we can regulate," he said. "We cannot prohibit. That's a very significant thing to remember."
There's controversy about whether the state's Ridge Law prohibits wind turbines of an industrial scale.
The wind turbines would be more than 300 feet tall on or near Big Springs Mountain. The developer hasn't specified a model wind turbine, but said he would probably use a helicopter for much of the construction, according to testimony filed with the N.C. Utilities Commission.
Interpretation of the Ridge Law is key to whether the proposed wind farm would be allowed, both sides in the debate have said.
Ashe's ordinance includes a setback that says a large wind-energy system shall not be allowed within 1,700 feet of any home or commercial building.
Lou Zeller, of the Glendale Springs-based Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, told commissioners during the public hearing that a 1,700-foot setback would prohibit the proposed wind farm. He spoke in favor of wind energy and the wind farm.
Richard Calhoun, the former Ashe County commissioner who is proposing to build the wind farm, said during the hearing that Ashe and the other mountain counties are suited for wind energy.
"I'm convinced we can do this project without destruction of our beloved mountains," he said.
"Big Springs is a sacred place to me."
He said he believes the Ridge Law excludes windmills.
"These are windmills," he said. "I don't see the debate."
Calhoun, who sometimes was at odds with his fellow commissioners during his last term, reminded them that he loved a "good debate."
"Anything controversial I love," he said, in his opening remarks. In his closing remarks, he jokingly suggested a visual tax.
"Anyone who wants to look at our mountains could pay $1 per minute," he said. "Fair is fair."
Jay Vincent, a Blowing Rock-based Realtor and developer, said he uses the term "specialness" to describe what most people enjoy about Ashe.
"I know nobody likes to be told what to do with their land, but at times like this, comprehensive plans or regulations sure look good," he said. "The windmill farm will be very detrimental to the specialness of this county."
Vincent reminded the board that when he was telling commissioners last spring about plans to build a ski resort on Phoenix Mountain, that Calhoun was the only county commissioner to speak against it.
"He said he wanted Ashe County to stay the way it was," Vincent said.
Later in the hearing, Ann Rose, of Lansing, said she supports the windmills and is much more concerned about Phoenix Mountain. She said that the ski towers and lifts look similar to transmission poles and wires, but "we don't hear anybody complaining about their views."
The five-member board must approve the wind-energy ordinance on a second reading for it to become effective. Blackburn said they plan to consider it for second reading at their next regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 19. Commissioner Marty Gambill was absent yesterday.
The N.C. Utilities Commission, which will decide whether to issue the certificate of public convenience and necessity that would allow the project, will hold a public hearing on the matter at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 13 in Raleigh.
• Monte Mitchell can be reached in Wilkesboro at 336-667-5691 or at mmitchell@wsjournal.com.
posted by Ann at 10:08 PM
Ann
2 Comments:
(Ann, You don't need to post it. Just think about it.)On account of generous subsidies, many industrial wind farms are being built in locations that aren’t efficient and harm the environment. They are being backed up by green house gas (GHG) emitting natural gas plants for most of the energy. Those numbers they cite about how many homes get powered by wind are totally bogus.
With an average out put of 25% of the rated power, to achieve 100% output, four times as many wind turbines would have to be built. That amounts to $6 -$8 million per effective MW installed capacity. And still the wind turbines must be backed up by gas power plants to ensure a reliable electrical system when there isn’t enough wind blowing.
Wind energy will cost consumers $billions. It takes economic activity to pay the bills. For the most part, industry, commerce and transportation are not green. What is the impact of the wind driven economic activity itself on global warming? Has anybody taken a big picture look at fossil fuel use for electricity generation, transportation, industrial, commercial and residential use to say that wind backed up by gas is the best way to achieve the needed GHG cuts in the long term? Dollars would be best spent on conservation and efficiency first
What about the wildlife confined in the little remaining habitat that is now forced to endure the low frequency and audible sound emitted 24-7 by the machines and heard for miles. The noise drives squirrels squirrelly. Some birds won’t nest near the machines. Eagles have been killed and forced from their habitat. Environmentalists say that’s OK because wind will save the planet. The jury is out on that claim. As it stands NOW, we are building inefficient, costly wind farms mostly backed up by a non-renewable and polluting energy source.
Such an interesting topic. I love my mountains. I hate to see the proposed ski 'thing' come and destroy the pristine Phoenix. I also hate the light pollution that all the booming development has brought upon the place. Now a debate over wind energy and their place in the mountains.
I remember the Howard's Knob wind turbine in Boone in the 1980s. I used to go up there and sit under it to look out at the surrounding city and mountains. Would the Big Springs turbines be like that one? That particular one wasn't all that distracting. Not as distracting as the light pollution at WalMart and Lowes is, or that from the new ski resort on the Phoenix will be. Such a travesty.
This debate is not an easy one. I'm all for getting rid of GHG; if wind can help then go for it. But I also say why not put a halt to so much over-development of Ashe County before it gets any more out of control than it already is? Doesn't the raping of the land for development's sake take out the trees that mother nature put here that are necessary to help cleanse the air and help us breathe? Why not stop that kind of detrimental activity too? It took a long time for the forests to become what they are in these mountains and in an instant some of them are gone. It's out of control all over the place. Wouldn't that help the GHG...saving the trees?
The turbines have their place, I'm sure. But I'm not too sure Big Springs is the place. If the comment above is true, and I don't doubt it is, it seems to almost not be worth it. If you have to back up a turbine system with fossil fuels then what's the point?
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