Published: October 06, 2009 09:48 pm      

Tazewell officials hope for wind energy study by next week

TAZEWELL, Va. — A long-awaited wind energy economic impact study for Tazewell County could be ready as early as next week.

County Administrator Jim Spencer had to leave in the middle of Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting to take a phone call from the Springsted Company, which is working to finish the wind energy study.

Following a five-minute recess in Tuesday’s meeting, Spencer told media representatives that he was told by Springsted officials on the telephone that the wind energy study wouldn’t be finished until mid-October.

“The study should be back by mid-October,” Spencer said. “We are working to schedule another meeting for them to present it to the Board of Supervisors.”

The board had previously indicated it wouldn’t make a decision on a ridgeline protection ordinance — and a large scale wind turbine farm proposed for East River Mountain — until receiving the wind energy study.

When asked why the study is not yet ready, board chairman David Anderson said he didn’t know why. Anderson said he was hoping the study would have been completed a month ago.

Spencer said he was working Tuesday to schedule another meeting where Springsted officials would be able to make a public presentation regarding the wind energy study.

Several individuals wearing green shirts, and buttons expressing support for wind power, were in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting.

Charlie Orrock, a resident of Bluefield, Va., said it was critical for the board to be very careful in maintaining and protecting the county’s beauty and tourism. He urged the board to review a wind energy study that he brought to Tuesday’s board meeting.

“People who feel strongly about the future of Tazewell County really need to take a look at this study,” Orrock said.

The supervisors are still mulling over a proposed mountain construction ordinance. If approved as currently proposed, the ordinance would seek to protect certain mountain ridgelines — including East River Mountain — by limiting construction of tall buildings and structures that may obstruct views of their crests or endanger the persons or property of residents below the ridgeline.

Dominion and BP Wind Energy North America have proposed the development of as many as 60, 400-foot tall windmills along East River Mountain near Bluefield, Va. The two companies received a green light last month for a similar development in Wise County that would involve the construction of 50 to 60 turbines that would produce 150 megawatts of power in Wise County.

A meteorological tower to study wind speed and direction has already been erected on East River Mountain. A number of geo-technical studies, along with wildlife and avian studies, also are continuing at the Tazewell County site, according to earlier reports by Ryan Frazier, a senior communications specialist with Dominion Energy.

In other action Tuesday, Barry Mustard, president of the Tazewell County Farm Bureau, announced the agency’s opposition to a proposal to reintroduce elk in Tazewell County and Southwest Virginia.

“We would like to go on record that we are opposed to elk in Tazewell County,” Mustard said. “They are beautiful animals. I wouldn’t mind hunting them. But I don’t think this is the place for them.”

Bill Osborne of Tannersville also expressed concerns about the proposal — and cited damage caused by the animals many years ago in Bland and Giles counties.

Board member Mike Hymes said Lee, Wise and Dickenson counties have already voiced opposition to a reintroduction of elk into the region.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com