WVVA TV Bluefield Beckley WV News, Weather and SportsMountain Preservation Association forms to oppose wind turbines on East River Mountain
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Bluefield (WVVA) - The beauty of East River Mountain is in jeopardy according to a group of citizens who are against the proposed wind turbine project.
This group has grown from a collection of six citizens to a group of 150.
Those opposed have a laundry list of reasons why they don't want industrial size wind turbines on our mountains.
The beauty of East River Mountain is what many people love about living in this area.
Dr. Teresa Paine is with the Association and explains, "All of us that live here know that our biggest asset, the biggest attraction for people, the biggest possibility for the tourist industry to grow is the beauty of our mountains."
The Mountain Preservation Association fears this beauty will be destroyed if the proposed wind turbines become a reality.
Dr. Paine says, "We are trying to protect the community and the mountains that we love from this type of destruction."
Wayne Evans is also organizing with the group. He explains, "These things are enormous. The generators on top of a 450 foot windmill are the size of a double decker bus."
It's a massive structure like this that makes this group fear for views and property values.
"Many, many homes in our area are within view of ridgelines because we have mountain ridges everywhere," says Dr. Paine.
Dr. Paine mentions that these mountain ridges are the very ones they hope to protect.
"We believe that these turbines are not the best thing for our county, we can grow in other ways. We certainly don't want to jeopardize the future of Tazewell County," explains Paine.
The biggest thing this group is trying to do is get a Ridge Line Protecting Ordinance in Tazewell County.
That issue will be discussed at the public hearing on February 3, which starts at 8 p.m. at Tazewell Middle School.
