Reaction to wind project varies this week

MONTEREY — "I don't want to feel defeated. I don't want to feel like I'm being victimized, and I don't want people to see me as a victim."

Tom Brody, one of the residents of Allegheny Mountain most affected by the wind energy utility to be built near his home and business, uttered those words the day after a site plan was approved for the project.

In 2002, Brody joined most other neighboring landowners near the McBride family property in strongly opposing the 400-foot towers the McBrides intend to erect on one of the highest ridges in Highland County. He joined lawsuits against county officials for the way permitting was handled. He joined grass-roots groups fighting against the proposal. He has seen the decline of his business plans, and of his second marriage.

But over the course of the last year, as the McBrides' company, Highland New Wind Development, has reached its goals to begin construction, Brody has accepted the project on some levels.

"It's just another part of the way things are now," he said, referring to the nationwide push for renewable energy on all political fronts. "We're at the mercy of all of that. These are private enterprises, and people want to make money."

Nonetheless, Brody feels good about what the project's opponents have accomplished since the idea was first introduced here.

"We have made a substantial impact in making people aware about all of the impacts of these projects in Virginia, and all over the country," he said. "We did what we could to make people aware. This all could have been thought out better by this county; (Highland) could have been less impulsive, but now you just go on and do what you have to do," he said.

"Unfortunately, it will change everything on that side of the county," he continued. "But there is potential for more (wind energy) development, and we've set a precedent."

Brody saw the photo-simulation of what the turbines will look like from his home and lodge Tuesday morning. "They make a very big impact on me," he said. One thing he realized was that he would see not only the towers on Red Oak Knob right above his property, but also some of the towers in the other array, situated on Tamarack Ridge. "That made it more difficult for me," he said.

He remains concerned about noise, and shadow flicker, and the potential impact to his farm and retreat eco-tourism business. "But, It's hard to say how that's going to affect things. I think it might have more of an effect on the value of my property … it's definitely going to be in my face."

Construction of the 19 towers, for Brody, is another matter. "This is going to have a major impact on the roads here. And as for Red Oak Knob, it's probably going to pulverize it. Just the footings for the pads are going to mean enormous amounts of fill. What are they going to do? Dump it all in a hollow? Red Oak is not the most conducive site, and there will be a lot of safety issues, with U.S. 250 access. VDOT is spread thin already, and now we're going to see on this wear and tear on the highway. From my property, I will see and hear a lot, constant blasting. And the strobe lights are going to change the night sky. All in the name of progress."

Brody continued, "I got pretty resigned to this for the last year. I know there are people still working hard on this, and I support them. There are still a lot of issues … I appreciate the efforts of all involved for seeing that this gets done responsibility.

"I'll either get used to it, or not."

Another nearby landowner, Laurie Berman, also feels let down by county officials. "I have not seen the final site plan but recognize that the initial one had serious concerns and questionable issues, as well as inaccuracies that needed to be dealt with, including property boundary locations," she said. "From what I have heard, the survey map was the same one which was presented several years ago. At that time, boundary issues were questioned, and it is a blatant display of unprofessionalism and disrepect to the county and the citizens on behalf of the developer for not having reworked what was recently presented to the county. We were initially pleased with the county officials' questioning of some of the inherent problems, but find it difficult to believe that these issues have now been adequately resolved in order to precipitate the approval given Monday night.

"Of course, we are not happy with the approval of the site plan," she added. "HNWD has never displayed appropriate concern for the citizens of Highland County, or the fragile and exquisite ecosystem where their property is located. HNWD continues to do as little as possible to address and satisfy the requested studies, and it remains unclear who will adequately deal with the issues that plague this project; the county wants us to believe that the state will enforce and monitor their requirements, when the state expects the county to take charge. In the long run, the citizens and neighbors have had to keep a watchful eye so that these important issues are not ignored. The county should have taken longer to inspect, address and review the site plan, and made certain that critical issues were actually resolved by true professionals in a professional manner, before granting approval. We feel that the county officials have bent over backward to accommodate the desires of the developer and thereby given precedence over the needs of the neighboring landowners and citizens of Highland County. This lack of respect and concern for other citizens, businesses, and landowners in the county continues to disturb and uproot our confidence in the local system."

Pen Goodall, another nearby resident, says he doesn't know what he will do. "Will I go crazy, insane, quickly? Yes," he said. "I feel like my land will be worthless. My whole life investment is down the tubes."

Goodall's home will have a straight view of several towers. "My property can't be worth a whole lot now," he said, "especially if the shadows of the turbines flicker inside the house all day long."

As for selling the home, which his wife wanted to do before things got to this point, "It's probably too late, now," Goodall said.

The couple, now separated, had also fought vigorously against the project for years.

At this point, Goodall said, "I don't know what's going to happen."

Disappointed also is supervisor David Blanchard, who had a number of reservations about the process for approving construction.

Reached out of town Tuesday, Blanchard said county administrator Roberta Lambert informed him by email of the decision to approve HNWD's site plan.

"We just have to move forward and continue to monitor the process," he said. "I'm disappointed they (county officials) interpreted things the way they did … It was very pro-developer. But that's just the way politics is and that's what they saw was in the best interests of the county.

"I will continue to ask questions and be very alert as to how this project is moving, and evaluate it," he added.

Asked whether he believed he'd done everything he could to protect county residents and Highland's environment, Blanchard said, "I think I could have done a little bit more. I could have started earlier on this. The hard part is, this is not a full-time job, but in the past two weeks, it's felt that way. I hope things work out."

Dan Foster, a staunch supporter of preserving Camp Allegheny, the Civil War battlefield near the project site, says there are still a lot of people interested in protecting that landmark. "No one with any authority has looked at this stuff," he said. "We didn't have any objective information to even look at until last night."

"My take," Brody added, "is that the county bent over backward for McBride. He took them for a ride and he still is … They (HNWD) let the county do all the work for them and McBride got it free and clear … So be it."

Rick Webb pointed to the Army Corps' confirmation of his assertion there were more wetlands than had been delineated by HNWD. "I suppose one could feel gratified given all the vehement denials and insults handed out by the developer's paid spokesman," he said. "The real issue, though, is this well established pattern where HNWD continues to provide the minimum or false information related to the impacts of the project. Mr. McBride and Mr. Flora have effectively gamed the system and our supervisors and county attorney have been willing players.

"This is far from over," he added. "Even if construction starts, this project will serve as a an ideal case study in the failures of Virginia's environmental protection programs, including the failures of the agencies responsible for enforcing the Erosion and Sediment Control statutes. These agencies, like the DCR and DEQ, are refusing to respond to clear evidence that the E&S plan submitted by HNWD and approved by Highland County is not in compliance with state regulations and guidelines. At this point, given the timidity of the responsible agencies, the E&S program depends entirely on the counties to implement the program, and there is no real interest on the part of at least the majority of our supervisors. Their allegiance is to the developer."

Supervisor Robin Sullenberger said he supported and applauded the work of the TRC. "I can't say anything negative about how they handled it, under extraordinary pressure and scrutiny. They did exactly what they were supposed to do," he said.

He reiterated his feeling the state agencies are not going to give the project any kind of final OK. "They will never say to you … all is right, all is complete, all is perfect," he said. "Then you have those who say it's our civic duty to go beyond the process we set out for ourselves. It can be never ending, but it has to end somewhere. Someone will always come up with something else … it's a never-ending saga, but I do understand many of these issues have to do with emotionality, not practicality.

"I think one thing needs to happen here," he added. "We can't just forget about all those concerns (of neighbors). We must always be reviewing (the project), and always pay attention. In this case, the scrutiny it's going to get is unbelievable from all directions, and that's as it should be. It's important for the future, and for the state. Overall, though, these (reviewing) agencies do not view the specifics of this project to be detrimental to the environment."

Berman, for one, thinks the project won't go up. "I don't expect to ever see the turbines actually constructed in our neighborhood," she said. "I feel terrible that so much energy, time, and money continues to be wasted by something so foolish and potentially destructive as this. Protection of this unique and wonderful mountain ecology and its pristine vistas is paramount. We have something very important to preserve and I believe in the long run, this will be recognized by all. In the meanwhile," she said, "we will continue to work to protect what we recognize as vitally necessary for future generations to appreciate and enjoy. There are so many things incompatible and wrong with the proposed project, that I am certain that justice will ultimately reign."

Some time ago, Brody allowed trees near his front porch grow, to help block the eventual view of the towers. "I can't wait — I will celebrate — the day I can chop them down," he said.