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Upsized Botetourt County wind farm squeaks through on 3-2 supervisors’ vote 

Credit:  By Mike Allen | Roanoke Times | May 27, 2020 | www.roanoke.com ~~

DALEVILLE – A divided Botetourt County Board of Supervisors gave a controversial wind farm project its second wind late Tuesday night.

In October, Apex Clean Energy asked for a change to its permit that would allow for the construction of fewer, taller turbines. Instead of the original proposal of 25, 550-foot tall turbines along the North Mountain ridge top, Apex wanted to build up to 22 that would be 680 feet high, about as tall as a 50-story building.

At the end of a four and a half hour public hearing over planning commission recommendations that featured speeches from critics and supporters, the decision of whether to approve the Charlottesville company’s request came down to a series of four votes, and in three of the four votes the normally harmonious board split 3-2 in favor.

“It was 3-2 this time. Last time it was unanimous,” said Daleville resident Bill Van Velzer, an opponent of the Rocky Forge project. “That tells me that the voice of reason didn’t go unnoticed.”

For Apex, the immediate next step involves seeking more permits, this time with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. But in terms of advancing Rocky Forge toward completion, “it’s a huge milestone,” said Karlis Povisils, the company’s senior vice president of development.

For any project like this, the most important pieces are “getting your local permit and getting your power sold,” Povisils said. “Rocky Forge now has both of those.”

Botetourt supervisors first approved plans by Apex Clean Energy to build the Rocky Forge wind farm in 2016 but Apex didn’t find a buyer for the 75 megawatts of electricity the turbines will produce until 2019. Dominion energy agreed to purchase the power and sell it to the state as part of a green energy package.

By then, Apex asserted, technology had advanced to the point where the wind farm could generate the same power at a more competitive price using taller turbines, and they wouldn’t need to build as many reducing the impact on the environment.

The company’s request reactivated the debate, pitting supporters – including wind energy advocates and the owner of the North Mountain land and his family – against advocates for preservation of scenic views and residents from Botetourt and Rockbridge concerned about plummeting property values, noise and the potential for bird fatalities.

The 22 speakers were evenly divided for and against. Among those who weighed in on the side of Apex, state Del. Terry Austin, R-Botetourt, provided a statement, read aloud by board Chairman Billy Martin, that mentioned the General Assembly recently passed legislation requiring utilities to deliver energy from 100% renewal sources by 2045. “Choosing to diversify our energy portfolio with Virginia’s first functional wind farm will establish Botetourt County as a leader in this effort.”

The most vocal critic of Rocky Forge, however, proved to be Amsterdam District Supervisor Steve Clinton, who described the proposed wind farm as having “overstated benefits and understated costs,” and suggested, “maybe this isn’t worth it.”

Martin, who represents the Blue Ridge District, stated that he supported wind energy but opposed the height increase. He also expressed exasperation that Apex still hasn’t secured passage to transport the massive turbine parts up the mountain, telling company representatives, “You’ve had four and a half years to get a right of way.”

Yet during the deciding votes, Clinton and Martin were outnumbered. The first two votes involved changing the county code for wind energy systems to allow for maximum turbine heights of 680 feet and a substation of up to 100 feet. Fincastle District Supervisor Richard Bailey, Valley District Supervisor Donald “Mac” Scothorn and Buchanan District Supervisor Ray Sloan all voted in favor.

Bailey responded to Clinton that though you could question the degree of benefits the county will gain from Rocky Forge, the benefits will nonetheless be genuine. “Green energy is real,” he said. ‘It’s undeniable that it’s the future as we move forward.”

The third vote, addressing a permit technicality, was 5-0 in favor. The final vote involved approving Apex’s request.

“This is effectively approving the project,” Clinton warned.

Bailey, Scothorn and Sloan remained steadfast, giving Apex the green light.

Clinton said afterward that he hoped Apex would take the opportunity to engage in community outreach and invest in the county beyond the North Mountain property. He said he worried Rocky Forge could open the door to other ridge top projects.

Source:  By Mike Allen | Roanoke Times | May 27, 2020 | www.roanoke.com

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

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