About me: Alternative Energy and Economic Development in the Coal River Valley:
There are currently four massive strip-mine permits out for Coal River Mountain that will level 6,600 acres and lead to the construction of 18 valley fills. These mines will be at the heads of Horse Creek, Dry Creek, and Rock Creek, and will surround nearly the entire length of Sycamore Creek, considered to be the most pristine stream in the area.
Fortunately, there is an alternative to the proposed mining – wind power. A wind survey of Coal River Mountain showed that there is excellent potential for wind development on the mountain. A wind farm would provide permanent jobs and sustainable energy for Raleigh County and West Virginia, while at the same time promoting a healthy environment for wildlife and people to enjoy.
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Energy:
Appalachian coal has fueled the nation for over a century, but it is a non-renewable resource and will therefore run out some day. In 2000, the U.S. Geologic Survey estimated that coal in West Virginia would be mined out within 20-30 years. According to the four permit applications, surface mining on Coal River Mountain will only produce coal and energy for about 15 years. In contrast, a wind farm will produce energy for as long as the wind blows.
While the initial power output is higher with coal in the short term, wind power will produce far more energy over the long term.
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Jobs:
Jobs in coal production last only as long as there is coal to mine. In the case of Coal River Mountain, this will only be 15 years. A wind farm, on the other hand, will employ 130 local residents during the 1-2 year construction phase, and will create 50 permanent maintenance jobs afterwards. Further, it would take only 35 years for a wind farm to provide a greater number of one-year jobs than the four surface mines combined.
A wind farm would also allow for the mountain to be used for other economic purposes, thus creating additional jobs and income. Following are some potential uses for Coal River Mountain that could coincide with a wind farm:
* Ginseng and other valuable forest plants can grow and be harvested right up to the base of a windmill.
* Sustainable forestry can steadily employ many people and provide an extremely useful and in-demand product forever.
* Mountain tourism, which continues to grow, could be profitable on Coal River Mountain, as the mountain is one of the area’s finest.
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Recreation and the Environment:
Surface mine sites aren’t much fun. Four wheeling on a moonscape is a short-lived novelty, hunting is limited, and fishing is rare. While the permitted area may be quite large for a wind farm, the actual amount of disturbed land is very small. The only development necessary for a wind farm is an access road up to and along the ridge. These roads often exist due to logging and gas wells and would require little modification.
The only thing preventing vegetation from growing right next to the windmill is the access road. Further, wind turbines do not produce any harmful by-products. As windmills add no additional chemicals to waterways, Coal River Mountain’s streams may once again be filled with valuable native fish species, rather than having to be stocked with non-native fish that can’t survive or reproduce in local streams.
Finally, when a mine goes in, access to land is often restricted. There is no need to restrict access to a wind farm and communities are given permission to hunt, four-wheel, gather herbs or hike on the mountain at their leisure.
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Who I'd like to meet: People who are interested in helping to develop a Wind Farm for Coal River Mountain.
Coal River Mountain Wind Project's Friend Space (Randomized)
