Wind turbine project makes no sense environmentally, financially
(Editor’s Note: The following letter was sent to Robert M. Blue, executive vice president and chief operating officer, and Diane Leopold, president and chief executive officer, Dominion Energy, Richmond, and shared with The Herald for publication.)
Editor:
I am writing to you about a wind turbine project in Botetourt County, Virginia. Apex Clean Energy is responsible for the project and Dominion Energy has ties to the project, including the construction and installation of a facility to collect and transmit the power that the turbines generate.
There is considerable local opposition to the project, including residents of Botetourt County, Rockbridge County and the City of Lexington. We ask that you halt your participation with this project immediately. Others have written to your company and have not received any response.
While the optics may be enticing, the project makes no sense environmentally and financially. It also incurs significant risk of additional liability for all the participants.
Does Dominion want to be associated with a project that carries significant risk of failure and the public attention that would entail? Or be associated with a company that has a spotty record and a project that has significant local opposition?
Opposition to the project is based on the following:
- Apex Clean Energy has never disclosed their data or calculations as to how productive the wind turbines will be, precluding any independent analysis that would likely show the turbines are significantly less productive than they claim.
- The project is only feasible because Governor Northam has committed the state to purchase the generated power, at whatever cost is needed to cover the project. The contract expires this calendar year (an election year), and Apex Energy is negotiating a new contract. What if that contract is not renewed?
- Botetourt County, where they will be placed literally on the border of Rockbridge County, has so far ignored our Rockbridge County residents’ pleas for this project not to process.
- The project will require the top of the mountain to be leveled to place the turbines and seven miles of new road will be constructed. The 22 turbine foundations to be blasted require a volume of rock equal to 300 average-sized swimming pools to be removed and then filled with an equal amount of concrete. It is devastating.
- There has been no mention of additional electrical transmission towers, power lines, or the facilities to be constructed to transmit the power generated.
- There is significant environmental damage that would result, including:
– Water run-off from the construction and changing the landscape, with significant effect on the James River.
– Little to no consideration given to the medical consequences of ultra-low frequencies affecting area residents.
– Light pollution, with each tower having multiple blinking red lights that are particularly visible at night.
– Destruction of woodlands and habitat.
– Damage to the bird population, including the protected Golden Eagle. Studies mention a Zone of Death, with the recent permit approval for taller turbines increasing this zone by 42%.
– Increased fire danger from a burning turbine spreading flaming debris.
Increased danger to helicopter hospital flights in poor weather condition.
– The concrete foundations and damage may remain with no clear liability if the turbines fail (as had happened) or as they age (which they will and need to be retired). Apex has said they will post a bond to cover the estimated cost of independent review if this estimate would be sufficient. Would your company be liable for the additional costs not covered by the bond?
– The wind turbines will be visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway and many areas of Rockbridge County. Our area has been listed in different official designations as an area worthy of being protects from such projects yet those designations are being ignored.
There is a gathering larger steam of opposition to this project. Dominion Energy’s public profile will be tarnished.
Please confirm receipt of this letter and let me know what questions you may have. It would be fruitful for a company representative to meet a group of us at the location to see for yourself the damage this ill-suited project would cause.
Neil T. Treger
Lexington
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Shooters need better care for mental issues
Editor:
Here we go again. Another mass shooting and our leaders jump right to gun control, and even taking our guns from us, as the problem solver.
Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.
A gun lying on a table, or locked in a gun cabinet, does not kill anyone. Someone has to pick it up and point it at someone.
The Roanoke Times has an extensive list of mass shootings we’ve unfortunately witnessed, in the effort to stir up fear of guns in its readership. However, the perpetrators have proven to be men with mental health issues and have generally chosen a gun-free zone for their actions.
A better response would be to look for better care of these folks who demonstrate mental issues but have no easy access to facilities and personnel who could properly treat them. How and where does a family or friend in the Roanoke region get sufficient help for someone in need? Care facilities have been closed and when a patient does get care, time is limited. We need to recognize the fact that some of our people need better care.
Stronger background checks or longer waiting periods to buy a gun may be in order, but taking legally purchased guns from honorable gun owners is NOT the answer.
Pat Jasper
Buchanan
