Coal vs. Wind in West Virginia. By Vicki Smith, AP, October 25, 2008. "Coal River Mountain Watch, the [West Virginia] environmental group that advocates the wind farm, says more Americans are demanding clean energy, so it's the perfect time to consider a more sustainable use for the mountain. It's also the perfect place: For industrial wind farms, developers seek sites with wind speeds of at least 15.7 mph, the minimum to be labeled Class 4. At its current height, Coal River Mountain catches winds that range from Class 4 to Class 7, with speeds up to and exceeding 19.7 mph. But the battle is uphill when nearly everyone stands to get rich from the coal... Joyce Gunnoe, keeper of a general store in Dry Creek [West Virginia] sees the wind farm advocates as meddling outsiders bent on destroying a way of life. They don't, as she puts it, 'have a dog in this fight'... North Carolina-based Appalachian Voices, which maintains the ilovemountains.org Web site, estimates 470 mountains have already been destroyed."
2008-10-26
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