False Choices and Begging the Question

Look at Blair Mountain. Masey is going to win that - eventually. An important monument will be lost - to Mountain Top Removal - which destroys watersheds, kills wildlife, poisons the ground water and irrevocably changes the landscape.

Why are people up in arms about 19 wind turbines which is green energy and does draw tourism to the region?

Southern West Virginia is being flattened by the big coal companies and everyone here is running around and fighting a project that is truly worthwhile. Where is the common sense?

Mountain Top Removal is evil. Look at this photo essay in Audubon about MTR.

http://audubonmagazine.org/features0703/photoessay.html

It is several thousand times worse than putting up 19 wind turbines that will deliver clean energy for decades, create jobs, bring tourism to Highland County and West Virginia plus contribute to the economic well being of the region.

Actually, in this case, I do not believe you have an option, or to put it bluntly, a dog in this fight.

This wind project is in the Commonwealth of Virginia. West Virginia seceded from Virginia in 1863. Virginians have very little say in the matters of West Virginia and West Virginians do of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio of Kentucky.

Pocahantas county residents were given the opportunity to speak about their concerns over this project in public hearings two years ago. How many citizens of West Virginia attended those hearings?

You may not like the wind farm. You may not like that change is coming to your area. I do feel that you will appreciate the additional income and interest that this farm generates. It will bring people to Highland and Pocahantas County. It will increase interest in Camp Allegheny. It will bring revenue and jobs to Pocahantas county. I know that there are several West Virginians currently employed by a sub-contractor for the project. That is money flowing to West Virginia from an approved and permitted project in Virginia. I believe that Virginians and West Virginians will benefit from this construction and in the long run this will be incredibly good for the economy of Highland and Pochantas County. Highland County will benefit from new jobs, tourism increase (to the wind farm and Camp Allegheny) and from substantial additional revenue from taxes to the county. Much needed revenue that can increase the quality of life in this remote region.

When the Highland New Wind project is complete, you will see this interest as people visit the county. The best thing I can suggest is that you prepare for the additional tourism, ramp up some spending and get the road to Camp Allegheny fixed so that it is drivable and spend some money on giving people a reason to visit Pochantas county.

I believe that you are doing the citizens of Pochantas County a disservice but fighting a project that is green, is not harmful to the environment and poses no threat to Camp Allegheny. Your forum is read by many and I appreciate being able to post my views and thoughts without rancor or emotion.

Put the wind turbines in an area that is already ruined! Put them up in Southern West Virginia.

Wind turbines need to be constructed near major power lines. The population of West Virginia south of Route 60 is not high enough to warrant construction of high density lines and the impact of flattening the ridges destroys the benefits of placing turbines at higher elevations.

Commissioner Saffer,

It is good that you want to protect Camp Allegheny.

The Wind Turbines are not a threat to the camp. They never have been.

The facts are Camp Allegheny is in a remote area and it is difficult to get to. It is not widely known. I never suggested droves of people would come to Pocahantas to see the wind turbines. I did say that there will be additional interest in the Camp and the wind turbines. You may not believe this, but many people like the turbines and will come to see the first wind far in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Others will want to see Camp Allegheny.

Do you not think that more people visiting the camp is a good thing? Do you feel that the camp should be visited by more people? If so, have you increased funding for or lobbied the state of West Virginia for more funds to improve the road so that others may visit the camp?

Your position is to help Pocahantas county. A wind farm that will increase interest in this region is a positive step forward for the county. An increase in green tourism dollars is a good thing. Sustainable and long term. An increase in jobs provided to West Virginians who will help construct this wind farm is a great thing, especially in these trying economic times.

I disagree with your assessment about the impact of the farm and I do not feel that you understand how positive green tourism can be to a region.

Commissioner Saffer,

Can you tell me what efforts you and the county commissioners have made in the past toward saving Camp Allegheny?

I know that this is an important issue to you and I believe the citizens of Pocahantas County would like to know of your efforts to save this historic resource.

Thank you.

Bruce Davidson

Mr. Saffer,

My family came to West Virginia from Virginia in 1873. There are now seven generations from the original family that settled in Putnam county. My great-grandfather was the Chief of the Bureau of Mines for West Virginia and actively fought for coal miner safety against the coal companies and the Republican controlled house.

I have several generations of cousins and siblings around the state plus my 96 year-old grandmother lives in Belle. My work involves watershed issues and I have spent significant time on the Potomac and Greenbriar rivers in Grant, Pendleton and Pocohantas counties. I am well aware of the attachment and investment that West Virginians have to their history. It is also the history of my family.

I have answered your question, please have the courtesy to do the same for me. Can you tell me of the efforts in the past you have made for the citizens of Pochantas county to preserve Camp Allegheny?

Respectfully,

Bruce Davidson

It is true. Both she and James Carpenter knew all about this years ago and decided to do nothing about it. In fact, David Blanchard, a sitting Board of Supervisors member, met with Reta Griffith and was told by her that she (meaning the Commission at that time) had no problems with the Wind Turbine Project in Highland County.