Highlanders gather to define their community By Anne Adams Staff Writer
MONTEREY Steeped in frustration, citizens left the elementary school gym in the wee hours of last Friday morning no closer to understanding what the future held for them than they had seven hours earlier.
It wasnt your average public hearing. For one thing, no one here can remember a pending board decision ever bringing that many people almost 500 together at one time. And its likely the longest hearing anyone here has ever attended. But its significance wasnt measured in hours.
People of Highland County students and those long retired, generational families and brand-new residents, farmers and teachers, professionals and housewives came before their three elected officials to plead for protection. They strongly urged, and sometimes begged, the board to reject an application that, if approved, would dramatically alter the landscape of Allegheny Mountain in Virginias least populated county and in time, many other county ridges as well.
The man who aims to erect an industrial wind energy utility in Highland was silent throughout the lengthy proceedings. Instead of rising to explain to his neighbors of some 50 years why he believed his project was good for them, H.T. “Mac” McBride let his attorneys do the talking. Eighteen to 20 wind turbines towering 400 feet above the ridge line would give Highland economic independence, they said, and the opportunity to lure tourists to the area much like the country of Switzerland markets its wind facilities to visitors.
“If you want to be like Switzerland, then you need to build some wind farms and advertise. You need to sell it,” said McBrides attorney John Flora, as he showed the board examples of Switzerland web sites that advertised their wind utilities. “If you want to look and act and be like Switzerland, this is what it looks like. Get a wind farm and you can be just like them. You can be Virginias Switzerland.”
Hours later into the hearing, resident Lee Beasley responded to that suggestion. “I want you to know, Mr. Flora, that Highland County wants to be like Highland County, not Switzerland,” she said.
Flora and his colleague Lisa Hawkins insisted Highlanders should support the facility for the greater good of the county, and the nation, and find a way to make the most of it. Flora estimated the county would get $175,000 to $250,000 annually from the project, not to mention the $120,000 shot in the arm from the building permit fee. “Thats $35 million to $50 million over a 20-year (project) life expectancy,” he said.
(Skeptics in the audience quickly did the math, finding Flora had carried his decibel point one step too far; the revenue over 20 years would actually yield $3.5 million to $5 million. He didnt account for depreciation, either, it was noted).
But there were some, 19 in fact, who agreed the wind energy plant should be allowed. Some spoke as “green energy” activists with nothing directly invested in Highland. But others residents and landowners said the board should not reject the project if it meant a significant increase in tax revenue for the county money enough to prevent further property taxes on land-rich but cash-poor farmers.
Members of the Ralston family of McDowell spoke boldly about their struggles to hold onto their farm for children and grandchildren, and urged the board to allow the wind plant so their tax burden could be lessened.
“If things keep going the way their going I’ll have to move,” said Margaret Ralston. “I cant make a living in Highland County. I cant find a job here. So I am for the windmills, and bully for Mr. McBride for trying to make an extra dollar.”
When it was their turn, opponents rose one after another 76 of them for hours on end. Another 35 or so who had signed up to speak were forced to leave before their names were called because of the late hour.
Some felt vulnerable and exposed, their emotions getting the best of them. Tears and anger and quivering voices surfaced despite strong efforts to keep them in check. Many had never spoken in a public forum, much less in front of nearly 500 neighbors, friends and co-workers they see every day.
And to a person, their passion for the place they live in ran deep the common refrain was, since Highland is one of the last privately held areas on the East Coast yet to be spoiled by mans insistence the quality of life is measured in growth, the board should do everything possible to prevent industrial development from gaining a foothold here. Even if it means foregoing a boost to the bottom line.
It took three years to get to this point. McBride, of Harrisonburg, had been working on his commercial wind plant idea long before his company, Highland New Wind Development, LLC, applied 10 months ago for a conditional use permit to build it. In two groups on his 4,000-acre property, the enormous turbines would generate up to 39 megawatts of power the company would sell on the grid hopefully at a premium to consumers anxious to support the idea of renewable energy sources.
Those living near the site and within view of where the turbines would stand said they were heartsick about the possibility of living under these machines with their swooshing noises and flashing red lights. Anxiety among them has risen steadily. And now, only days away from finding out whether Highlands board will approve the project, many are exhausted. They, too, have been at this issue a long time organizing meetings, talking to neighbors, conducting research on the industry, traveling to seminars.
At first, Allegheny Mountain residents and landowners just wanted to know whether the projects benefits were worth sacrificing the quiet enjoyment of their properties, and their land values. But the more they learned, the more they were convinced this was not as “green” an energy source as some would have them believe. And so they rallied in opposition. They joined others on the East Coast also fighting what they believe could become a proliferation of turbines on mountain ridges paid for with taxpayer money in the form of federal subsidies. Turbines that dont even generate very much power.
For three years, supervisors have been careful about revealing their own opinions on the matter. They have refused to speak too much about the proposal in public under the advice of attorneys who tell them to avoid saying anything that could later be used against them in lawsuits. But one-on-one, in private conversations, residents have learned enough from these three men to sense this project will be given the green light. Consequently, most opponents left last weeks hearing believing they laid bare their feelings in front of hundreds of people for nothing.
County supervisors, for their part, have not been without a certain level of stress themselves. Sometimes, they believe, constituents just dont understand their responsibilities. They are all native to Highland, men who have worked hard all their lives farming, construction, business. Each believes he loves Highland County just as much, if not more, than those who spoke before them Thursday night. They believe they know whats best for those they represent. They believe they understand their legal options in terms of land use, zoning and taxation. People need to trust us, they say.
Nevertheless, residents have accused these men of not listening, and not caring. Many think the board members are naive in believing they can maintain control of this kind of development once this camel has its nose under the tent. They point to McBrides high-powered lawyers from Harrionsburg, and some have hired their own and filed suit already. They point to McBrides apparent influence on Virginia legislators. Just before the hearing, a new player emerged John Maisano, who works for one of the countrys largest, most influential law firms, Bracewell and Giuliani as in Rudy, former governor of New York. The firm of 400 some attorneys boasts clients including AOL Time Warner, General Electric, and Goodyear. Included on the client list is Florida Power and Light, the power company that owns the most wind energy facilities nationwide, including the one next door in Tucker County, W.Va. Maisano moonlights teaching negotiations and bargaining for Johns Hopkins’ MBA program. “Sounds like you all could use a little negotiating and bargaining down there,” he told The Recorder this week.
Maisano says he does public relations on issues like this all the time, working closely with clients in the mid-Atlantic. “I will try to help them make their message clearer,” he says. With the additional revenue, he explains, Highland could increase services roads, health care, library services, schools, emergency services. “There are a lot of things any county supervisor would be happy to have,” he says. My hope, their hope, is that we can step back from the emotional part and take a close look at the economics.”
Supervisors have 60 days from the hearing, until Monday, July 18, to decide on HNWDs permit request, although all have indicated they probably wont wait that long. At their regular board meeting June 7 they will schedule a time to vote.
Robin Sullenberger has indicated hes not prepared to risk Highland’s character for the uncertain promise of tax revenue from this project. “The wind issue is by far the most contoversial one we’ve had,” he said Tuesday.
The hearingwas “at times tedious but very beneficial and educational,” he added. “The speakers were excellent and obviously passionate about their issues.” He said there were some industry people who just came to listen, which did not surprise him. “Theres a very clear indication this situation is being monitored nationwide. Any evolving industry monitors things like this for their own purposes to gauge public sentiment. And you can feel intimidated, especially when there are big boys involved and you sense the political pressure and big money are close behind. But I can assure you there has been absolutely no pressure put on us (the board) by anybody in terms of being coerced or bulled in our decision … That actually is a little surprising,” he said.
Jerry Rexrode maintains he cannot violate McBride’s rights to develop the property as he sees fit. Furthermore, the revenue that can be negotiated, he believes, is good for the entire county. And the greater good is what counts. Rexrode defended the boards silence Thursday, saying, “People stand up to us and want to know why we dont say how we feel or why we dont answer everything. Well, Im going to tell you why because weve been threatened by lawsuit after lawsuit. Every time we come up with anything controversy we get threatened to be sued. Therefore we have to come up with the best interest of the county and try to keep our mouths shut before we get the county in trouble.”
Lee Blagg, for one, says he made up his mind on the matter three weeks ago, though he hasnt told a soul where he stands. He says he didnt learn much more than he already knew at the hearing, and anyone who said they knew which way he would vote must be a mind-reader. He agrees with Rexrode there is hate in the community. “I can see it in their faces, in their eyes,” he said this week. “What were looking at is a conditional use permit. Yes, it happens to be a wind farm. And we cant ignore public opinion, thats obvious … Im not that good on zoning, but we will treat this like any other conditional use permit.”
Blagg says money may play a part in considering the request. “This is a $60 million project, not a chicken house,” he said. “It has to be considered.”
He says many of those opposed have too much time and money on their hands. “Everybody needs to relax,” he said. “Live a little. Theyre wound way too tight … People are very concerned, and I can understand why.”
McBride, for his part, has said little except that he believes its his duty to contribute a renewable energy source to this country, and find a way to preserve his property for his children and grandchildren. Asked this week how he thought the hearing went, McBride hung up on the reporter calling.
One thing was clear last week: Highland County has a stirring effect on people. Its magical scenery and timeless ways have attracted outdoorsmen and artists, farmers and writers, bird-lovers, cavers, fishermen and biologists. Its population boasts native families who have been great stewards of the land, farming its pastures and keeping the open spaces intact. They have been joined steadily over the years by disenfranchised city-dwellers who have come to escape the corporate atmosphere of urban living. The mix has not been without inevitable friction and differing views about how to keep Highland and its citizens economically sound and simultaneously protect its priceless environment.
“Its getting ridiculous. Anytime in this county … a decision or any controversial issue comes up, there has to be hate in the community,” Rexrode said as he closed the hearing last week. “I mean, I dont hate anybody. Never have. But you know, it seems like you dont want us to do our jobs … Weve got to represent the interests of all the county.”
All the county will await his decision with the greatest interest.
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