An objective Cost/Benefit Analysis of industrial scale wind energy in the Appalachian Mountains and more specifically in the Blue Ridge Mountains

1. Wind Energyin the Appalachians Cost / Benefit Analysis Blue Ridge Mountain Defenders

3. 1992 Rio Declaration states: The best environmental policy is to protect the environmental systems as a priority, in particular where the results of an action are unknown.

5. How are we responsible stewards of the earth if by attempting to conserve resources in one area (e.g., producing clean energy) we are at the same time causing destruction in other areas of the environment?

7. Island of Green Mountain ridges are just as fragile as Wetlands

8. Turbine Installation On A Vermont Ridgetop

9. Water Degradation Siltation of creeks and tributaries Sediments clog streams Harm aquatic life

10. Water Degradation (cont.) Contamination of groundwater aquifers will affect springs & wells, & ultimately rivers & reservoirs. Contamination of surface water will affect spring water for homes. AFTER BEFORE

11. Oil in Turbines Leaking oil can enter soil & both surface & groundwater. Oil will add fuel to forest fires caused by lightning, mechanical problems, or carelessness.

12. Contrary to popular opinion, due to their inefficiency in energy production, wind turbine installations DO NOT REDUCE THE CARBON FOOTPRINT.

13. Turbine Construction = Habitat Destruction Present Honeysuckle Road Future Honeysuckle Road?

14. Poor Mtn. Sugar Maples Present Upland Forest Roanoke County Ridges

15. Tree Species of Concern AMERICAN CHESTNUT CAROLINA HEMLOCK DISEASED HEMLOCK CANADIAN HEMLOCK

16. Native Fishes Will Suffer From Stream Siltation And PollutionBrook Trout , Roanoke Logperch & Madtom

17. Habitats of Game Species will be Disturbed & Game Numbers Reduced

18. Songbirds Restricted ToVirginia’s Mountain Tops Will No Longer Be Seen VEERY JUNCO (SNOWBIRD) CANADA WARBLER

19. Migrating & Resident Hawks Will Be Decimated Season After Season OVER 2700 HAWKS WERE SEEN OVER POOR MT. ON SEPT 22ND, 2009

21. 3 ospreys

22. 5 bald eagles

23. 23 accipiters

24. 2 peregrine falcons

26. Unusual Mammal Residents of the Blue Ridge Mountains Jumping Mouse Eastern Woodrat Red-backed Vole Long-tailed Shrew Spotted Skunk

29. Benefits, cont’. Provides financial revenue … stream to the property owner. Estimate: $7,000 -$10,000 per turbine per year /gross Provides financial revenue … stream to Roanoke County government. Estimate: $800,000 -$1,000,000 per year /gross Provides jobs. One or two fulltime plus periodic maintenance and support personnel, annually. During construction, local graders, excavators and raw materials suppliers will be hired to assist the specialty construction workforce, who installs the turbines.

30. Costs ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS for 15 wind turbines on Poor Mtn. Funding? 30% Federal and other grants and subsidies ; not including annual maintenance subsidies or investment tax incentives 30% Federally-insured loans 30% private investment 10% wind developer & turbine manufacturer – “…they have no skin in the game.”Larry Summers, WSJ Oct 2010

31. Costs, cont’. PLUS Higher Electricity Rates Renewable Energy Credits 1 Mwh = 1 REC 31 States have Renewable Portfolio Standards enacted that require power companies to supply a designated percentage of electricity distributed in the state, to be from renewable energy providers. – A False Market Power companies are routinely granted rate increases by the states, to pay for this relatively scarce electricity resource. So, while the taxpayer provides the majority of the funding for this industry, the consumers pay still MORE!

32. Costs, cont’. Appropriated Land Area ~ 2000 A tract / 18 turbines x 2.5 MW = 44 ½ acres per Mw in the Appalachian Mountains Poor Mtn.: 4.75 miles of new 100’ wide (minimum) access corridors on the ridges to connect each 3 to 5 acre turbine site. –Denuded Areas Little or No CO2 benefit in the Appalachian Mountains Wind is intermittent, therefore supplemental Coal will likely remain on line in the Appalachians for base load requirements. Beech Ridge Wind Energy Center, WV

33. Scope 15?, 18?, 36?, 54? 1.5Mw?, 2.5Mw?, 4Mw? on Bent Mountain & Poor Mountain in Roanoke County Are we considering 15 or 18 turbines on Poor Mountain... or …thousands on Appalachian ridges across Virginia

35. 6 Years Data from local automatic weather station

36. Google Earth

37. Local & Statewide professional resourcesBlue Ridge Mountains Floyd County

38. In March 2010, Invenergy stated there proposed 15 turbine project would be capable of generating enough electricity to provide for 10,000 Roanoke Valley homes. Our Finding: 5,104 Homes LESS 10% Transmission/ Distribution Losses (510) 4,594 Homes Annually

39. Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area Population: 303,200 Households based upon US Census Data: 2.2 per household 138,000 Electricity Requirement for RMSA 541 – 2.5 Mw Wind Turbines 44.5 x 541 x 2.5 = 6o,186 Acres of Mountain

40. Can site basedgeneration systems be a better clean energy solution? Vertical Axis Wind Turbines Solar Panels Bloom Boxes All provide equal or greater supplement in both urban & rural locations and reduce transmission and distribution losses Vertical Axis Wind Turbine VAWT

41. Does the placement of industrial scale wind turbines near rural communities benefit one segment of society, while exploiting vulnerable rural populations and ecosystems?