Archive of 2006 Material

Articles | Editorials | Letters to the Editor

The Recorder is a weekly newspaper published in Monterey, VA.
Anne E. Adams, Publisher and Editor

P O Box 10, Monterey, VA 24465
540-468-2147
e-mail:   recorder@htcnet.org

The Recorder launched an on-line service in April 2005.
Please visit TheRecorderOnline for all non-wind local news.
We will link directly to this site for any wind articles posted there.

The Recorder has provided continuing in-depth coverage of the wind-power issue in Highland County as it has developed for several years.
Listed below are all items that were published in 2006.
They are in reverse chronological order so the latest info is always at the top. This is a complete list.

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Articles:

• Articles published on or after 3 January 2008
• Articles published in 2007
   
• Jack Mountain project delayed – Wind developer failed to give notice; vote put off until June – 15 December 2006, p. 1, 7.
• Liberty Gap seeks federal permit – Wind energy company wants PSC to abstain from wildlife discussion – 15 December 2006, p. 7.
• Committee considers ridge lines, again – 15 December 2006, p. 3, 7.   Ridge-top protection was discussed but not included in the draft comprehensive plan.
• Big cities want Highland power – 8 December 2006, p. 1, 4-5. Charlottesville, Arlington urge SCC to approve wind project permit. Letter from Arlington to the SCC.
• W. Va. wind proposal found lacking – Liberty Gap may not have met ‘burden of proof,’ says [PSC] engineering division – 8 December 2006, p. 4, 6.
• Big wind in Bath? – 1 December 2006, p. 1, 5. Officials want to limit turbine industry in comprehensive plan.
• Wind project hearings come to a close – 24 November 2006, p. 2.
• Highland officials share experience with wind – 10 November 2006, p. 1, 5-6, 14. First meeting on wind, solar siting system held.
• Site plan needed to evaluate wind utility – 10 November 2006, p. 7. Witnesses say application lacked specifics; SCC hearings continue another week.
• JMU receives $85,000 to develop scoring system – 10 November 2006, p. 14 – for industrial wind-power siting.
• Wind hearings under way – 3 November 2006, p. 1, 3. Report on the first day of the SCC hearings in Richmond.
• Wind project hearings begin – 27 October 2006, p. 1, 4-5, 9   Preview of the SCC hearings on HNWD.
• Sidebar: What to expect at hearings – 27 October 2006, p. 4.
• State agency urges caution on wind project; Turbines serious risk to endangered wildlife – 27 October 2006, p. 5-6.
• Wind group director responds to criticism – 27 October 2006, p. 6-7.
• Wind energy group to spearhead siting guidelines – 20 October 2006, p. 4, 6. The wind-advocacy group VWEC has been tasked to establish wind siting requirements. [The print version is titled, Wind energy group to spearhead scoring system.]
• Federal agency urges Liberty Gap to get permit – 20 October 2006, p. 4, 7. USFWS advises getting a taking permit under the Endangered Species Act to avoid possible prosecution.
• Turbines can interfere with military radar systems – 13 October 2006, p. 5
• Department of Defense weighs in on wind – 13 October 2006, p. 6
• Wind energy conference to be held in Lexington – 13 October 2006, p. 8
• HRD prepares for wind hearings – 13 October 2006, p. 8
• Hearing set Oct. 3 for wind case witness – 22 September 2006, p. 5. John Rowlett to testify early due to a conflict on the 30th.
• Highlanders to speak at Pennsylvania wind energy conference – 15 September 2006, p. 10
• PSC to reconsider Liberty Gap wind project – 8 September 2006, p. 5
• Wind developer responds to DEQ report – 18 August 2006, p. 3, 6-7
• County prevails in wind suit – 11 August 2006, p. 5
• Wind company asks state to reconsider – 4 August 2006, p. 2.   Liberty Gap appeals PSC decision.
• 2-state fest draws 300+ – 4 August 2006, p. 8.   The print version has several more photos than the on-line edition.
• Jack Mtn. wind project nixed by state – West Virginia agency dismisses Liberty Gap project application – 28 July 2006, p. 1, 6
• PSC’s surprise decision: What happened? – 28 July 2006, p. 6
• Wind application set for October public hearing – 14 July 2006, p. 1, 6
• County wins 3rd lawsuit – 7 July 2006, p. 1, 4-5
• Testimony lasts hours, experts called – 7 July 2006, p. 5-8
• SCC denies motion to dismiss wind project application, again – 7 July 2006, p. 4
• DEQ issues wind report, but info still found lacking – 7 July 2006, p. 8, 16-17.
• County wins in court – 1 July 2006, on-line report, not in print edition.
• Wind case witnesses take stand; 3-day trial under way – 30 June 2006, p. 1, 4-6.
• Wind trial starts Tuesday; Two suits to be appealed to Virginia Supreme Court – 23 June 2006, p. 1, 4.
• What’s at stake: Lawsuits heard – 23 June 2006, p. 4. Current status of the five suits against Highland County.
• Who’s who? Attorneys involved for county, citizens – 23 June 2006, p. 4.
• Four years later: Timeline for wind project – 23 June 2006, p. 5.
• Motion filed to dismiss wind application; Citizens try again – 16 June 2006, p. 6.
• Wind opponent groups plan festival – 16 June 2006, p. 6. The event will take place on 29 July at the Blue Grass Ruritan Building. Judge dismisses 2 wind suits, Permit decision still goes to trial at end of June – 9 June 2006, p. 1, 4.
• State insists on more study of wind project – 9 June 2006, p. 3, 5. Report on DGIF letter to DEQ.   Complete text of letter, 9 pp, 640 kB.
• Pendleton wind hearings reflect Highland opposition – 12 May 2006, p. 1, 4-5. PSC hearings in Franklin on Liberty Gap.
• Sidebar: A quick look – 12 May 2006, p.4. The essential features of the Liberty Gap project.
• Wind developer asks DEQ to complete report, Two more industrial turbine projects proposed in Virginia – 12 May 2006, p. 6
• Site ‘as good as it gets’, HNWD says – 12 May 2006, p. 6-7. Excerpts and discussion of Flora’s letter to the DEQ.
• Another legal action filed over wind project – 5 May 2006, p. 2
• Planners support their wind project recommendation vote – 5 May 2006, p. 5
• Comments on wind energy project still coming in – 28 April 2006, p. 23-24
• Planners deem wind plan a fit, 3-1 vote in favor – 21 April 2006, p. 1, 3-4
• Attorney says commission as no jurisdiction on wind plant review – 21 April 2006, p. 3
• Planners to review wind project with comp plan – 14 April 2006, p. 6-7
• Wind project comments keep coming – 14 April 2006, p. 23
• West Va., Liberty Gap debate wind application – 7 April 2006, p. 6-7
• ‘Show us the money,’ PSC says – 7 April 2006, p. 6-7
• Planners to decide if wind meets county goals – 31 March 2006, p. 2
• Zoning official finds utility generally compatible – 31 March 2006, p. 2. The complete report, as presented to the Planning Commission, is available. The article cited presents excerpts of this report.
• 50 more speak to wind evergy issues – 31 March 2006, p. 24-27
• SCC denies motion to dismiss wind application – 24 March 2006, p. 1, 5
• Federal agencies, Conservancy concerned about wind plant impacts to wildlife, camp – 24 March 2006, p. 6-7
• Still time to comment on wind plan; SCC extends filing period – 24 March 2006, p. 6
• Comments on wind plan continue to SCC – 24 March 2006, p. 24-26
• Highlanders pick apart wind plans, 60 of 66 speakers at SCC hearings oppose HNWD application – 17 March 2006, p. 1, 4-5
• Bear Mountain retreat owners plea to be heard – 17 March 2006, p. 5
• SCC gets more comments on wind energy – 17 March 2006, p. 23-25
• Wind bill gives localities taxing options – 10 March 2006, p. 1, 4
• DEQ suspends wind application review, More information needed, state agencies say – 10 March 2006, p. 4
• Game & Inland Fisheries finds bird, bat studies lacking – 10 March 2006, p. 5-6
• Turbines may interfere with military radar – 10 March 2006, p. 7
• SCC rules on wind project’s application deadlines – 10 March 2006, p. 7-8
• SCC wind project hearings: How to participate – 10 March 2006, p. 8
• Supervisors require planners to hold hearing on project – 10 March 2006, p. 9
• SCC hears more from Highlanders on wind – 10 March 2006, p. 24-25
• Planners review wind, again – 3 March 2006, p. 1, 3. Planning Commission has 60 days to decide if utility site is suitable.
• Birds, bats at high risk on Red Oak – 3 March 2006, p. 3, 5. Talk by Dan Boone at HRD symposium.
• Wind-related legislation still shifting, Hanger’s bill for Highland amended – 3 March 2006, p. 5-6
• Be prepared for SCC hearings, citizens advised – 3 March 2006, p. 6. Talk by Lucile Miller at HRD symposium.
• Highlanders urged to understand county finances – 3 March 2006, p. 6. Talk by Steve Fullerton at HRD symposium.
• Don’t encourage wind development yet, says VCC – 24 February 2006, p. 4 – Valley Conservation Council resolution (sidebar, p.4)
• SCC gets more comments on wind project – 24 February 2006, p. 20-21
• Wind developer wants SCC to speed things up, More players added to utility application case – 17 February 2006, p. 1, 5
• Farm Bureau wind energy article taken to task – 17 February 2006, p. 5
• Pendleton Group wants Highland’s help – 17 February 2006, p. 6
• Pendleton wind developers disappoint – 10 February 2006, p. 5 – Liberty Gap developers give canned answers to some questions but refuse a dialog with citizens.
• Liberty Gap officials answer written questions – 10 February 2006, p. 5-6 – Summary of Liberty Gap answers.
• Sidebar: A quick look – 10 February 2006, p. 6 – Summary of local wind proposals.
• Group seeks to dismiss wind application – 3 February, p. 4, 6 – Friends of Beautiful Pendleton County seeks to block USWF’s Liberty Gap project on Jack Mountain.
• Will U.S. Wind extend Liberty Gap project into Highland? – 3 February, p. 4 – Their application to PJM includes such a proposal.
• Senator Allen hears from HNWD – 3 February, p. 4 – Comments from Allen’s staff. Text of the Flora letter is below.
• HNWD says U.S. Fish & Wildlife stalling its plans – 3 February 2006, p. 5 – The text of a letter written on 13 December 2005 by John Flora, HNWD attorney, to Senator George Allen.
• Wind tax revenue bill passes senate – 3 February 2006, p. 5 – Sen. Hanger’s bill would provide about $200,000 per year to Highland County if the HNWD project is built.
• Shifting winds: Legislation on the move – 27 January 2005, p. 3 – Report on SCC review of HNWD project, status of various bills in the Virginia Legislature and the Liberty Gap project in Pendleton County.
• Wind energy issues to hit House, Senate – 20 January 2006, p. 1, 3 – More on the legislature.
• Sidebar: Date moved for wind energy trial – 20 January 2006, p. 3 – to 27 June.
• Sidebar: Comments on wind project begin to emerge – 20 January 2006, p. 3, 7 – excerpts from letters to the SCC.
• Sidebar: Contact your congressmen – 20 January 2006, p. 3 – addresses listed.
• Legal advertisement by HNWD announcing the application and hearings – 20 January 2006, p. 7
• The power of efficiency – Homeowners lower heating bills, use less energy – 20 January 2006, p. 1, 4-5, including several sidebars. While not directly involved with the wind-turbine issue, this is an excellent article about one of the things we should be doing about energy instead of installing industrial facilities on our ridge tops.
• Wind-related bills enter debate – 13 January 2006, p. 1, 3 – Bills introduced in the legislature.
• Sidebar: More wind incentives – 13 January 2006, p. 3 – State tax breaks proposed.
• SCC sets wind plan hearings – Highland citizens, Nature Conservancy to participate – 6 January 2006, p. 1, 11, 13 – More details on the upcoming hearings.
• Highlanders argue SCC application incomplete – 6 January 2006, p. 13, 15 – Highland citizens ask the SCC to dismiss HNWD’s application.
• Hearings on wind project: How to participate – 6 January 2006, p. 14 – Information for those wishing to speak or write to the SCC.
• W.Va. landowners argue wind plant detrimental to property values, tourism – 6 January 2006, p. 14 – regarding NedPower’s Mount Storm facility.
   
• Archive of 2005 Articles
• Archive of 2004 Articles

Editorials:

• Editorials published on or after 3 January 2008
• Editorials published in 2007
   
• All for Highland? – 15 December 2006, p. 21.   Planners should conduct a new survey of county residents before completing the comprehensive plan.
• Spinning out of control . . . – 8 December 2006, p. 21.
• Tale of two counties – 1 December 2006, p. 17.
• Protect that which defines us – 24 November 2006, p. 21, 23.
• Pictorial – 3 November 2006, p. 21, regarding the ongoing SCC hearings. [670 kB]
• Evidence is clear – 27 October 2006, p. 21.
• Wind group poor choice for balance – 20 October 2006, p. 21. Regarding VWEC’s involvement with state siting guidelines.
• Wind energy: A looming disaster for West Virginia – 1 September 2006, p. 21-22 – by Vincent A. Collins, reprinted from the Sunday Gazette-Mail, Charleston, WV, 20 August 2006. This link is to the original article, not the reprint.
• Wind energy developer too gusty – 28 July 2006, p. 19-20.   WVPSC dismisses Liberty Gap application.
• Virginia can do it better – 7 July 2006, p. 21-22.
• Converging on conclusions – 9 June 2006, p. 21.   DGIF and the state agency reviews of HNWD.
• Counting on the states – 12 May 2006, p. 21, 23.
• Getting to the heart of it – 14 April 2006, p. 21-22
• Environmentalists miss the mark – 24 March 2006, p. 21
• Highlanders present convincing case – 17 March 2006, p. 21,   including quotations from 28 of the 66 speakers at the SCC hearings.
• A false sense of security – 10 March 2006, p. 21
• Mosquitoes something to bat around – 10 March 2006, p. 21, 23
• Time to make it count – 24 February 2006, p. 19, 20
• Who do they think they’re kidding? – 10 February 2006, p. 21, 23 – Regarding the USWF stonewall in Pendleton County.
• Push coming now to shove – 3 February 2006, p. 19, 21 – Regarding John Flora’s attempt to get Senator Allen to intervene with USFWS on behalf of HNWD.
• It’s not easy being green – 20 January, p. 19 – regarding the challenges facing incoming governor Timothy Kaine. While not directly about wind turbines, this is clearly relevant to the issue.
• Solutions look easy at a distance – An open letter to Sen. Frank Wagner of Virginia Beach – 13 January 2006, p. 19, 21.
• In March, push comes to shove – 6 January 2006, p. 19, 21.
   
• Archive of 2005 Editorials
• Archive of 2004 Editorials

Letters:

• Letters published on or after 3 January 2008
• Letters published in 2007
   
• Mother nature rearranging her house – Ann Wefer, McDowell – 22 December 2006, p. 23.   Not really a letter, this piece has two drawings depicting the potential impacts of ridge-top construction on the valleys below.
• Change your light bulbs to reduce fossil fuel use – Sandy Hevener, Blue Grass – 22 December 2006, p. 23
• Charlottesville failing in its efforts to get ‘green’ – Deborah Huso, Blue Grass – 15 December 2006, p. 22-23.
• Writer dismayed by Arlington’s wind stance – Lewis Freeman, Arlington, VA – 15 December 2006, p. 23-24.
• We all need to turn out a few lights, Mr. Lynch – Alice Campbell, Roanoke, VA – 15 December 2006, p. 24.
• My dishwasher noisier than wind turbines – Renee Shue, Salisbury, NC – 1 December 2006, p. 18
• If wind turbines are built, eagles will die – Orren L. Royal, Dublin and Blue Grass, VA – 29 September 2006, p. 22
• Bald eagle sighting on U.S. 220 south – Gary S. Norton, Hot Springs – 30 June 2006, p. 22 [includes comments on eagles and wind turbines]
• Commission needs to listen to everyone – Larry Held, Monterey – 30 June 2006, p. 22-23
• Beloved Highland home changes, deserves care – Greg Isles, Broomfield, CO – 28 April 2006, p. 22
• Wind project opponents should ‘never give up’ – William D. Erving, Hot Springs – 28 April 2006, p. 22
• What kind of legacy to leave? – Brad Armstrong, Forks of Water – 7 April 2006, p. 22
• Give wind energy a try – Michael Connelly, Brunswick, ME – 31 March, p. 22
• Wind coverage too heavy – Mary Lou Cox, Monterey – 31 March, p. 22
• Proud to be a Highland resident – Larry Held, Monterey – 24 March, p. 22
• Wind energy use a step forward – Albert T. Woodson, Monterey – 24 March, p. 22-23
• Recorder owes board apology – Crystal Stephenson, Monterey – 24 March, p. 23
• Pendleton Ministerium hosts forum on wind – The Pendleton Ministerial Association – 3 March 2006, p. 20
• Multi-county wind plant opposition: join forces – Arthur Hooton, Riverton, WV – 3 March 2006, p. 20
• Commend Fish & Wildlife, reader tells Sen. Allen – Sandy Hevener, Blue Grass, VA – 17 February 2006, p. 17 – Letter to Senator Allen, reprinted in The Recorder.
• Farm Bureau being used in wind energy debate – Rick Webb, Monterey, VA – 17 February 2006, p. 17 – E-mail message to Greg Hicks, VA Farm Bureau Federation, reprinted in The Recorder.
• Guest-View: Renewable portfolio standards premature – John Sweet, Mustoe, VA – 17 February 2006, column including sidebar, “The arithmetic of renewable energy”
• Resident opposes wind project, tells the SCC – Patricia Ann Wefer, McDowell, VA – 10 February 2006, p. 22
• Va. energy plan a poor proposal – B. C. “Sandy” Hevener, Blue Grass, VA – 3 February 2006, p. 20 – Letter to Delegate Saxman, reprinted in The Recorder.
• Bill ignores local land use decisions – John R. Sweet, Mustoe, VA – 3 February 2006, p. 20 – E-mail message to Delegate Saxman, reprinted in The Recorder.
   
• Archive of 2005 Letters
• Archive of 2004 Letters

John R. Sweet, Mustoe, VA

Part of the Backbone Mountain project in Tucker County, WV. These are reported to be 345 feet high while those proposed for Highland are expected to be 400 feet high.   Photo by Sandy Hevener

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