Coal River Wind

Deep in the heart of the West Virginia “coalfields,” residents are proposing an exciting alternative to mountaintop removal coal mining on Coal River Mountain: clean, renewable wind energy. The development of a wind farm on Coal River Mountain has the potential to keep the mountain intact while providing energy and much needed jobs for the surrounding communities, FOREVER. Since the foot print of a wind farm includes only the turbine pads, a few access roads to the ridge and one along the ridge line, the rest of the mountain is preserved and available for economic development and recreation. It is estimated that the proposed wind farm would only lead to the clearing of 50-100 acres of forest - which is much smaller than the proposed mining area of 6,000+ acres.

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Creating Safe, Long Term, Green Jobs

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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 for 14 years. A wind farm, on the other hand, will employ over 200 local residents during the 2 year construction phase, and create 40-50 permanent maintenance jobs afterwards. Further, it takes only 27 years for a wind farm to provide a greater number of one-year jobs than the four surface mines combined.

A wind farm will also allow the mountain to be used for other economic purposes, thus creating additional jobs and the opportunity for stable, supplemental income for local residents.

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Potential uses for Coal River Mountain include:

• Ginseng and other valuable forest plants can grow and be harvested in the traditional manner right up to the base of a windmill.

• Sustainable forestry can employ many people and provide useful, in-demand products forever, while providing the resources to bring traditional, localized craft-making back to the area.

• Mountain tourism could be profitable on Coal River Mountain, as the mountain is one of the area’s finest. It has been shown that wind farms bring tourism to new areas.

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Creating Affordable, Renewable Energy

Appalachian coal has fueled the nation for over a century, but it is a non-renewable resource and will run out some day. In 2000, the U.S. Geologic Survey estimated that the most economically recoverable 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 produce coal and energy for about 14 years. In contrast, a wind farm will produce energy for as long as the wind blows.

Further, while the initial power output is higher with coal in the short term, wind power will produce far more energy over the long term. Most of the coal that is produced in West Virginia is exported, and so once Coal River Mountain has been mined out, there won’t be any coal left to help power West Virginia. A wind farm, however, could produce energy for West Virginia forever.

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Recreation and a Safe Environment

Surface mine reclamation is difficult and limited. Four wheeling on a moonscape is a short-lived novelty, hunting is limited, and fishing is rare. While the permitted area may be large for a wind farm, only a small amount of land is disturbed. The only development necessary for a wind farm is an access road up to and along the ridge. These roads often exist from logging and gas wells and require little modification.

Further, wind turbines do not produce any harmful by-products. Windmills add no chemicals to waterways. Coal River Mountain’s streams can be filled with native fish species, rather than having to be stocked with non-native fish. 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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