They say that “coal keeps the lights on,” but there are other ways to generate energy that are far less destructive like wind and solar which are both on the rise as two of the fastest growing inevestment markets around.
While it’s true that I don’t have the option to select wind-generated power from Appalachian Electric Power who supplies my energy, friends in Tennessee have this option on their monthly utility bills with the Tennessee Valley Authority. TVA recently stated their need to invest in more wind technology because so many Tennessee residents were choosing to pay a premium for wind power.
The mountain above my house is called Coal River Mountain. Massey Energy has applied for mountaintop removal permits that would remove nearly 6,000 acres of mountain and require 19 new valley fills. Alternately, a wind company has studied the topography of the mountain and has determined the mountain suitable to support more than 200 windmills. This project would generate enough power for more than 90,000 homes forever and create approximately 50 direct jobs — again, forever. The project could create up to 150 jobs for the first few years of construction. With very little re-training these could be local jobs, the men around here certainly know how to navigate steep hilly terrain with heavy machinery.
Why wouldn’t Rowland Land Co. (the land owner of said mountaintop though I will always uphold the common value of that land - hunting, ’senging, ramping…) prefer to lease to an operation that would generate profit every year into eternity rather than to a surface mine that would be played out in approximately 20 years? When the MTR job was done Rowland would be left with reclaimed land which is good for? Less than 2% of all reclaimed MTR land in Appalachia has been “re-developed”.
The old adage that “coal keeps the lights on” is just that — old. The time is now; let’s move into the future before we’re left in the inevitably clearing coal dust.
If it were your back yard what would you choose. I’ve made my choice.
Posted by Freebird
i have friends that have the choice of renewable energy options through their electric company, too. more and more people are choosing renewable energy and are willing to pay a little extra for it. yes, wv needs to get on the bandwagon or we’re gonna be left behind, just like in so many other areas.
I have to apologize I commented here once but was messing with something that wasn’t broke.
Anyway - I would love to see windmills on our mountains. But a renewal resource in the coalfields who would’ve ever thought such a thing?
Again sorry for the missing comments. I’m done messing with it.