Published: August 20, 2008 09:21 am      

Brothers to spread word about wind farms

Today likely release for proposed turbine code amendments

CUMBERLAND — A set of brothers with Allegany County ties plan to form a grassroots effort to inform the public about the proposed wind turbine project on Dan’s Mountain near Vale Summit.

Cresaptown resident David Athey, a retired college library worker and a Vietnam veteran, said on Tuesday that he and his brother, Charles Athey, of Potomac, Md., feel the project wasn’t “explained very well when it came up as an issue.” They have five points they’d like county officials and wind energy proponents alike to consider. None of the issues, however, are any that have not been discussed in public forums in wind energy discussions in Allegany and Garrett counties in recent years.

The Times-News reported on Aug. 10 that Dan’s Mountain Wind Force LLC, a subsidiary of U.S. Wind Force LLC, was granted a grading permit by Allegany County to study nearly 3,000 acres of land off Dan’s Rock Road. The wind energy conversion system would include 25 wind turbines that are 2.5 megawatts each — making the project eligible for the fast-track approval process from the Maryland Public Service Commission.

The permit specifically prohibits construction of any type and allows CME Engineering, of Frostburg, to take soil samples to determine if the area is a suitable location for an industrial wind energy conversion system.

At the commission’s July 16 meeting, Hager distributed draft proposals to commission members at the meeting. Those documents were not released to the public under the state Public Information Act’s intra-agency exception which allows such communication remain private.

At today’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, County Planning Coordinator Phil Hager is expected to release to the public figures pertaining to proposed changes to the county zoning code. Commission members are expected to discuss minimum separation distances from outbuildings and private residences for industrial units, subdivision requirements, proposed setback distances, provisions for interference from industrial wind farms, bonding requirements and minimum separation distances for residential turbines.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at the County Office Complex on Kelly Road.

Athey said he doesn’t think wind turbines, which he called “monstrosities,” belong in Allegany County and are better suited for other areas of the country with a history of more consistent wind patterns.

“A lot of things are controversial with wind turbines,” said Athey, an activist with Amnesty International who believes letter-writing campaigns are an effective way to spread a message.

Athey said he believes more needs to be known about the environmental impact of such wind farms. He’s also concerned about whether the current transmission lines have enough capacity to carry the new energy — yet another potential cost to taxpayers could be to build new transmission lines, he said.

Dan’s Mountain is a major thoroughfare, Athey said, for several types of migrating birds and bats. Joe Trainor, president of Dan’s Mountain Wind Force, told the Times-News on Aug. 10 that despite being eligible for fast-track approval, the company will conduct many of the environmental studies necessary under full regulatory procedures.

Athey said wind turbines also negatively impact the local housing market and tourism industry.

“These things are pretty ugly,” he said. “I went to Somerset (Pa.) when I first moved up here. I saw those monstrosities along those mountains up there. I thought, ‘if I wanted to buy a house, I wouldn’t buy it there.’”

Athey attended county schools, including Allegany College of Maryland and Frostburg State University. He returned from Washington in January. Dan’s Rock can be seen from his home.

“I love it here,” he said. And he said that feeling will remain so long as wind turbines don’t interrupt the view.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.