According to Wind Data Charts prepared by AWS/Truewind, a private consultant from upstate New York paid by the DOE, a politically driven federal agency stakeholder* in “unproven technology’, the most productive “on-shore” wind sites in Virginia are on the Blue Ridge mountains, paralleling the Blue Ridge Parkway. Chicago-based Invenergy, LLC and other “Windbaggers” including GE, BP, Horizon, Siemens and a host of others are trying to establish a “beach-head” along the Blue Ridge in Virginia. (*Stakeholders: In today’s twisted world of spin are those whose livelihoods are dependent upon the promotion of non-validated sources of renewable energy, not the property holding stewards of the land.)
Supervisor Richard Flora commented at a recent public hearing considering the proposed Large and Industrial Scale Wind Turbine Amendment to the Roanoke County Zoning Ordinance that he considered it the responsibility of the Board of Supervisors to determine the “highest and best use” of land in Roanoke County. Very few Roanoke County citizens, if any, would disagree with his statement. The appeal of Mr. Flora’s statement is in its simplicity and clarity of understanding the importance of allowing for thoughtful uses of Roanoke County lands.
As a result of County staff’s guidance, the current proposed amendment to our Zoning ordinance falls far short of responding to Mr. Flora’s commitment. No benefits to our community have been irrefutably identified other than a suggestion from the “windbaggers” of $800,000 of more annually of tax revenue to Roanoke County. Further the amendment as it currently stands minimizes reasonable protection of the citizens of Roanoke County and the entire Roanoke Valley.
An $800,000 annual tax revenue windfall, first, benefits our local government staff. Secondly, it may, just may, provide some relief to local taxpayers at the expense of many individual citizen landowners.
The saddest part of this misadventure is that, indeed, as we have been warned, the Windbaggers do not hesitate to divide and split a community over massive financial gain……
at our direct expense.
That ephemeral massive financial gain will not benefit any in Roanoke County.
ReplyDeleteDan Crawford's comments in his letter to the editor today, in a rebuttal to my last letter, truly shows an agenda being pushed that is patently false. That he chose to use the following quote from the National Academies of Science is ample proof of the influence of ICLEI on the Sierra Club and their current agenda.
"Climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risk for, and in many cases is already affecting, a broad range of human and natural systems."
Let's not forget that 'climate change' is the latest mantra for the debunked 'man-made global warming theory.'A lie titled differently is still a lie and these people persist in their propaganda.
Also from Dan Crawford - "The Sierra Club, Renewable Energy and Electric Vehicle Association, and Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition fully intend to influence the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors. This is democracy at work. We work to unite, not divide, the public and our leaders in seeing the increasingly vital role wind energy plays in our economy."
As obvious as it has been, I am glad to see him admit to their lobbying efforts on behalf of ICLEI. They can deny affiliation with ICLEI, but it is a simple thing to compare web sites and see the connection. As for his comment that "we work to unite, not divide," I couldn't agree more with Eldon's comment that contradicts that statement. The issue is divisive because stakeholders such as the Sierra Club and RVCCC have made it so via their 'climate change' propaganda. These groups do not have any interest in the truth because they have already determined what 'The Truth' is for all of us.
$800,000.00, if that, windfall will have near no effect on our county compared to the tens of millions of taxes going into the treasury. That won't even buy a back alley deserted lot. Dollar crazed governance will do anything for one more dollar.
ReplyDeleteThe result of the windbagger's efforts will be greater destruction to Appalachia Mountain Tops that coal harvest. They do not live here. We will be blown by their deception.
GOD SAVE US
I don't think that climate change is a myth, or that that statement is propaganda... the more important argument here is that a wind farm on top of a mountain is not an effective enough source of renewable energy to make up for the devestation it causes. Trying to save the planet by destroying it doesn't make much sense...
ReplyDeleteThey all have everyone in the valley totally blinded by their bloated "facts" and figures and their villianization of Bent Mountain residents anyway. This is a losing battle and I'm ready to move far way from here rather than deal with the misinformation, the insults, and being continually disenfranchised by the local government who don't give a lick about bent mountain or its people.
Let's get down to the truth of it here... Roanoke county does not care about us. They would make us their sacrifical lambs to make a quick buck at the expense of the long-term interests of every citizen of the county, and they won't lose a minute of sleep over it.
Also, and I can't seem to find the article, or maybe it was that documentary on the Penns wind farm, but isn't there a loophole that allows the wind farm company to avoid paying any taxes to the county?
ReplyDelete800K in any event is a pittance for what they will take away from the community, I just wish more people saw it that way...
I would love it if Rooanoke managed to become known for wind farms! Along with so many other outdoors amenities which reflect a judicious combination of development and appreciation of the natural world (such as the Parkway, the AT, etc.) we could attract forward-thinking companies and residents by demonstrating that we walk the walk on clean, renewable energy.
ReplyDelete