By CHARLES OWENS Bluefield Daily Telegraph 
April 2 2010

— BLUEFIELD , Va. —  Plans for a wind turbine farm on East River Mountain will not be abandoned, officials with Dominion said Thursday.

In a letter to the Daily Telegraph,  David A. Christian, the chief executive officer of Dominion Generation, said the company remains convinced the wind turbine project will create jobs, income and economic opportunities for Tazewell County .

“With BP Wind Energy, we own 2,600 acres on East River Mountain ,” Christian said in the  letter. “We will not abandon our plans for wind development there any time soon. We realize that attitudes can change and believe that as citizens study the issue further, they will come to the conclusion that the sound and fury flowing from the opposition was misplaced. The proposed project would not destroy the mountaintop, and no solid evidence exists to show declining tourism and property values near wind farms.

“We can say with confidence that wind turbines along East River ’s ridgeline would deliver new jobs and economic opportunities for the residents of Tazewell (County),” Christian added. “And they would provide millions of dollars in revenue for the county — money that could be put to good use in improving the quality of life for everyone.”

Ryan Frazier, a corporate communications manager for Dominion, said the wind turbine project for East River Mountain remains “active.”

“We view this as a long-term development,” Frazier said. “It is still an active project.”

Frazier said Dominion will continue to explain the project to the community through various public relations and community outreach efforts. Frazier said the company also continues to have correspondence with the county regarding the project.

The county Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 on Feb. 1 to adopt the so-called ridgeline protection ordinance, which restricts the development of tall structures on certain protected ridgelines, including East River Mountain and Burkes Garden. Board chairman Seth White and Western District Supervisor John Absher voted against the ordinance, arguing in support of property owner rights and the tax revenue the wind turbine project would generate.

“It has been more than a month since Tazewell County ’s Board of Supervisors voted for a ridgeline protection ordinance that effectively derailed wind development on East River Mountain ,” Christian added in the letter. “Although Dominion respects the board’s decision as representing the voice of the people, we believe it was wrong. Why? Because our proposed wind farm means jobs, income and economic opportunity for Tazewell County .”

According to Christian, the project would provide an estimated $10 million in revenue to county coffers over the next 20 years.

“These funds could be used for police and parks and for maintaining old schools and building new ones, for example,” Christian said. “In addition, the construction phase would spur at least 150 jobs, with commercial operations providing about a dozen permanent jobs.”

 Christian said the East River Mountain project also will create another $10 million in local products and services for Tazewell County .

“These figures should not be discounted, especially when you consider that no other proposal for development along East River ’s ridgeline would provide as many jobs or as much cash for the county and its citizens,” Christian added in the letter. “In addition to all of the benefits that I already mentioned, residents whose property is directly affected along East River Mountain would obtain an additional source of income. In short, the ripple effect of this kind of economic stimulus would be widespread.”

Christian said the proposed wind turbines would also  harness a free and clean source of energy.

According to Christian, Dominion is working to be a good corporate neighbor. He said the company has joined the Richlands Area Chamber of Commerce, the Tazewell Area Chamber of Commerce,  and the Bluefield Area Chamber Commerce, and has also donated $30,000 to support scholarships at Southwest Virginia Community College . Christian said Dominion also has funded the Tri- County Health Clinic in Richlands, and has supported local charities such as the Second Chance Learning Center and the Labor of Love Mission.

“Dominion is a company that takes its community responsibilities seriously,” Christian said. “When we make promises, we work hard to deliver. And we always promise to be a good neighbor. It is part of our corporate culture.”

The ridgeline ordinance adopted by the supervisors does allow for an appeal of variances.

According to an earlier report by County Attorney Eric Young, the ordinance includes a variance process where the two companies — or any individual affected by the ridgeline ordinance — can appeal if they can show their property has been “rendered useless” as a result of the ordinance.

Dominion and BP purchased 2,600 acres of land along the ridgeline of East River Mountain in 2008 for the purpose of building as many as 60 wind turbines. There was no ridgeline protection or tall structure ordinance in Tazewell County at the time the two companies purchased the property.

– Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com