Wind energy committee gathers on Wednesday By Anne Adams • Staff Writer
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Virginia Highlanders following the debate on the impacts of commercial wind turbine projects may want to head next door to West Virginia next Wednesday.
On Dec. 14, the National Research Council committee on the environmental impacts of wind energy projects, under the umbrella of the National Academies, is holding an open public session with a variety of expert speakers on the subject.
West Virginia congressman Alan Mollohan, who has called for investigations on industrial wind projects and requested this particular study, will be one of the opening keynote speakers.
This is the second meeting of the NRC committee, a 14-member group undertaking a 20-month review, which includes Highland County, Va., resident Rick Webb.
This week, Webb said, "The public session of the upcoming meeting of the National Research Council's committee on environmental impacts of wind projects should be of interest to anyone who has concerns about wind energy development in our region. My hope is that the committee will be able to provide an objective analysis of the issues and thereby contribute to well-informed permitting and policy decisions. In Virginia we face decisions about individual permits, and various groups are lobbying to mandate wind energy development through enactment of renewable portfolio standard legislation. At his point, however, much of the information available to decision makers is notable for its uncertainty. Responsible decision making will require a more-reliable understanding of the actual benefits and costs."
Webb noted information about proposed wind energy initiatives in Virginia is available on a web site he maintains: www.vawind.org.
The preliminary agenda for the meeting Wednesday is outlined as follows:
• 9 a.m. - Welcome and introductory remarks, Paul Risser, NRC committee chair
• 9:15 a.m. - The Honorable Alan B. Mollohan, U.S. Representative, West Virginia, 1st Congressional District
• 10:05 a.m. - Richard Cowart, The Regulatory Assistance Project. Cowart, former chairman of Vermont's Public Service Board, has been quoted in media sources as arguing the Mid-Atlantic region should push harder for efficiency instead of addressing energy needs with providing more electricity.
• 10:55 a.m. - Break
• 11:10 a.m. - Sam Enfield, PPM Atlantic Renewable
• 12 p.m. - Lunch
• 1 p.m. - Judith Rodd, Friends of the Blackwater
• 1:50 p.m. - Craig Stihler and Steve Brown, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources
• 2:40 p.m. - Break
• 2:55 p.m. - Ed Arnett, Bat Conservation International. Arnett was instrumental in determining the number of dead bats at both the Mountaineer (Backbone Mountain) wind project, which was one of the largest bat kills recorded, and at the Meyersdale, Pa., wind plant.
• 3:45 p.m. - Jim Ellars, West Virginia Public Service Commission
• 4:35 p.m. - Public comment. Anyone wishing to provide a brief comment is asked to contact Jordan Crago at jcrago@nas.edu. Individuals also may sign up at the registration table.
n 5:45-6 p.m. - Concluding remarks Paul Risser, NRC committee chair
Wednesday's meeting will be held at The Charleston Civic Center, Rooms 204 and 205 at 200 Civic Center Drive, Charleston.
Following Wednesday's open session, NRC committee members and staff will hold closed sessions Dec. 15-16.
For more information, contact David Policansky: dpolican@nas.edu; (202) 334-2234.
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