Who gets to decide where wind turbines are placed?
Denied a permit by the Hardy County Planning Commission, Invenergy wants to pass state laws in Charleston that preempt local zoning ordinances
Because of the snowstorm on Saturday, the Short Mountain Coalition’s community meeting transitioned to a virtual format, proving to be a fortunate turn of events. Around fifty attendees were expected at an in-person gathering; over ninety people registered, with over seventy participating on Zoom. The robust turnout pleasantly surprised coalition leaders Ron Frost and Linda Peters.
Facilitated by Linda Peters, the speakers at the meeting included Ron Frost, Hardy County Commissioner Steven Schetrom, and Delegate Bryan Ward. Their insightful presentations sparked a lively and productive Q&A session, making the 90-minute meeting an engaging experience.
The session is available for viewing on YouTube. Access accompanying images, maps, and shared links from the meeting here.
To provide context for those unfamiliar with the issue: Invenergy, a Chicago-based renewable energy company, sought a permit from the Hardy County Planning Commission in 2021 to install 19 utility-scale wind turbines on Short Mountain in Baker, West Virginia, with residential properties situated within 1500 feet of the proposed site, one as close at 244 feet. Check out the maps of the proposed turbine sites here.
Following a review, Hardy County Planning Commission rejected Invenergy’s permit application, determining the location to be zoned residential. Hardy County officials proposed an alternative path for Invenergy to seek permits within designated industrial districts, involving an amendment to existing zoning ordinances and mandatory public hearings. You can read the details about the Planning Commission’s decision here.
It’s sad to say that the story of Invenergy’s Short Mountain Wind Project does not end here.
Commissioner Schetrom shared during the meeting that Invenergy never even replied to the county officials. Instead, they have been lobbying the West Virginia State Legislature to pass laws that override or preempt local zoning ordinances.
Their persistence was narrowly thwarted during the 2023 session, thanks to the efforts of concerned citizens, many of whom attended the Saturday meeting. We expect that Invenergy will attempt a similar move in 2024. The company considers the Short Mountain project an active one with its dedicated website with no mention that the county has denied its permit application.
You might be asking yourself, why is this company so hung up on this site? Why don’t they move on to another site?
As the speakers pointed out, the Short Mountain location is strategic because of its proximity to the Baker Electrical Substation. Invenergy explicitly highlights this on its website.
Another question you might be thinking at this point is, so, what’s the big deal? Isn’t renewable energy a good thing?
First of all, Linda Peters plainly stated during the introduction of the meeting that Short Mountain Coalition is not against renewable energy. She said, “Many of us who are opposed to this specific project do support green energy. The problem with this project is how close the proposed turbines are to property lines and structures.”
Ron Frost, who has extensively researched the impacts of living near wind turbines, presented findings during the meeting that were both alarming and eye-opening. Contrary to attempts to dismiss it as a NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) issue, the concerns raised are fundamental matters of public safety and well-being.
Let’s start with the basics. As you can see in the chart Ron shared during the meeting, they are enormous.
Imagine having one or more of these placed less than 1000 feet away from your back or front yard. Or another way of putting it: would you want to buy a home next to one of these?
Highlighted during the meeting are the following alarming impacts:
Environmental disruption due to mountain-top removal for wind turbine placement.
20%-40% devaluation of property values near turbines.
Use of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), a hazardous chemical with detrimental health and environmental effects.
Failures, collapses, airborne blades, and fire hazards associated with wind turbines pose a significant risk to safety.
Delegate Ward, who has worked for the fire department and as a sheriff, is most concerned about these public safety issues with wind turbines. He emphasized that no local fire department has the capacity to put out a fire on a structure that tall. This is a serious threat to our entire community. In response, Delegate Ward has drafted a statewide bill proposing a 2-mile setback for all wind turbines, a measure crucial for public safety.
Again, this is not to say wind turbines should not be used at all. As a society, the benefits of wind turbines probably outweigh the harms. However, there is no denying that there are dangers associated with wind turbines and that we should consider all harms and risks and find ways to minimize them.
So, the core issue here is who decides where they are placed. Certainly, no company should be allowed to bypass the decision of the local government to reject placing them near homes.
Commissioner Schetrom stressed the historical significance of local planning and zoning in Hardy County, urging community engagement to prevent the state legislature from undermining these vital ordinances. Local planning and zoning were established in our county fifty years ago following what is stated in the West Virginia state code:
That planning land development and land use is vitally important to a community;
It would be entirely unfair to the homeowners and residents of Hardy County, or any county with local zoning and planning, to be told suddenly that those zoning ordinances will no longer matter.
For more information on the history and the importance of planning and zoning in Hardy County, check out Hardy County Planner Melissa Scott’s presentation on this topic.
For those willing to support the cause financially, the Planning Commission has created a fund, pending approval of the terms by County Commissioners, with voting scheduled for tonight, Tuesday, January 9th.
The meeting ended with Linda Peters issuing a call to action: come to the meeting at Lost River Yoga (6981 WV-259 Lost City, WV) next Saturday, January 13th, 12pm-2pm. Discussion topics will include strategies for lobbying during the 2024 legislative session, including potentially chartering a bus for lobbying efforts in Charleston. Check the event page for the meeting.
If you can’t join us in person, join us on Zoom. You can register here. The in-person meeting starts at 12pm to give people time to get some food and settle down. The meeting will go live on Zoom starting at 12:30pm.