Published: January 10, 2009 08:11 pm      

Firm aims to answer swirling questions regarding windmills

BLUEFIELD, Va. — Do windmills make a lot of noise? And are they really an ugly blight upon a scenic mountainside?

And will folks actually travel from miles and miles away to see a giant windmill farm. Yes, windmills can be a tourist attraction, at least according to members of a local consulting firm.

Scott Matney, a member of Strategic Consulting and Export, a firm representing several companies interested in building large-scale windmills along East River Mountain in Tazewell County, said the windmills will be located miles and miles away from highways. The group spoke with the Daily Telegraph last week during a meeting of the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors.

“You won’t hear the windmills — not unless you are right upon them,” Matney said. Matney said there have been no recent studies to suggest that windmills are a legitimate noise concern. While they do vibrate — you have to be pretty close to the windmills to experience the vibrations, Matney said.

Matney said visitors often will travel to see windmill farms. He said a wind turbine program in Tazewell County could attract visitors from outside the region.

James W. “Will” Morefield, also a member of the consulting company, said the argument that windmills will ruin the aesthetics of an area “..simply isn’t a legitimate argument in my opinion.”

Morefield said wind also can be an alternate energy source to coal in Tazewell County.

As a result, Morefield said officials need to diversify their resources. As a result, wind can be an alternate energy source.

If the development of the windmills are not restricted by a proposed ridgeline protection ordinance being considered by the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors, Morefield said the windmills could be erected on East River Mountain within a one to two year period. The consulting firm believes the windmill project could create hundreds of new jobs for Tazewell County.

Matney said the companies the consulting firm is working with are “ready to start” on the windmill project.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com