Not wanting to start the windfarm debate but fantastic to see a governmental
body taking responsibility in the US. A little toe in the door maybe????
Wind farm must protect birds, bats
SCC returns plans, sets July hearing on Highland proposal
The Associated Press
Saturday, April 7, 2007
ROANOKE -- The State Corporation Commission yesterday sent a proposal for
Virginia's first wind farm back to develop a plan to protect rare birds and
bats.
In recommending approval last month for construction of 19 turbines, SCC hearing
examiner Alexander Skirpan found that the Highland New Wind Development proposal
posed a risk to birds and bats on Highland County's ridges. Skirpan recommended
a monitoring program, developed by the company and the Virginia Department of
Game and Inland Fisheries, to reduce the environmental hazard.
The SCC said in its order that all parties to the case and the commission's
staff should be involved in developing the plan, and scheduled a hearing for
July 17 in Richmond. Among the issues to be considered are funding, the species
to be protected and the roles of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and
others.
A number of residents in rugged rural Highland oppose the turbines, which would
be built at a 4,400-foot elevation near the West Virginia border. They fear the
whirring blades on 400-foot-tall towers will kill rare and endangered birds and
bats that frequent the remote area.
"We agree with the hearing examiner that the proposed facility will provide
economic benefits and will have no material adverse effect upon the reliability
of electric service provided by any regulated public utility," the commission's
order said.
But, the SCC said, "We must consider environmental impact."
===============================
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
===============================
|
