Windmill view: One-day shot

“This site has a shot (Nov. 15 only) of some large windmills just erected on Backbone Mountain northwest of Dolly Sods and near Blackwater Falls State Park. They are huge!

Link to InterMountain story”

“Are the windmills any worse than the power line cuts through the woods? Each location where they cross over a ridge or mountain top, they destroy the continuity of the view. And each time I view such a break, I am reminded of the view from Grandfather's mountain of a large condo complex perched on top a distant mountain. Ugh!”

“aren't they. But they are graceful looking.”

“stikmon, i agree. i've always loved the way those things look.

they're not to obtrusive. it could be worse.”

“nowslimmer: These will be much larger than power line towers, although the analogy is somewhat apt in that there will be lines of them. Height is around 300 feet

stikmon: graceful yes, in their place. Where that place is is the question.

tarabull: I don't know that the view gives a true perspective.

To me they are quite obtrusive. Again, the question of location is crucial. If they were on some ridge that was already marred by power lines or antenna installations, then no, they are not obtrusive. In an area where no such things exist and there is a nearby viewing area, they would be very obtrusive.

We're obviously going to get a chance to see these things up close and personal if we go to the Sods, and sooner rather than later. Construction on the NedPower project is due to start sometime in mid to late 2003, barring unforeseen legal delays. The first phase of their project would be somewhere close to where Route 42 crosses the plateau, and near the existing Mount Storm power plant.

I think seeing them up close and personal is going to be more illuminating than a photograph.”

“Geobeet - You're right. It stinks that they've placed these in such a place that the view from the trail is marred.”

“My thoughts exactly. If they were farther north at the same latitude as the power plant, it would be nothing. In fact, they would be barely visible at that distance.

At a distance of two miles though, I suspect the reaction of people is going to be negative. Particularly among those of us who are used to seeing trees and rocks from Bear Rocks.”

“Next spring they are building 12 windmills on Bald Mt. right next to the State game lands here in Northeast PA. I heard they gave the township $73,000 so far.”

“There is also another proposal along US 33 on Rich Mountain west of Seneca Rocks. This one would be visible from Spruce Knob, Roaring Plains, and parts of Otter Creek Wilderness. Rich Mountain is just east of the Laurel Fork Wilderness Areas.

Twelve is a drop in the bucket compared to the West Virginia projects that are planned or already building.

Which State Game lands is that Rich? I'm not familiar with the location of Bald Mountain.”

“State game lands 93 in Bear Creek right above Wilkes Barre. It's a great mountain with nice views. I was shocked when I heard they were going in there to put in windmills since it's pretty far out in the woods. They are also putting windmills in Waymart about 20 miles away.”

“I could see it on the ridges just above Scranton or Wilkes Barre, but not out in the wilderness. I just don't get it. There seems to be little that can be done to fight them either, although I keep hoping somebody will find a way.”

“Or why not in some of those strip mines astride the Turnpike? Sheesh, that is already a wasteland!”

“I agree, there's already many towers on the mountains on both sides of the valley and they should put it there and spare Bald Mt. There's already access roads near the city too. Why carve a road way out in the woods? I think two things are at work here first the not in my back yard thinking and second the money they offer the township. A lot of these smaller communities will take money any way they can get it. It seems like everyone is looking for money with rising health care costs, raises, etc.”

“Dolly Sods Wildernerness is one good place in W.Va. Been there many times and have been overwelmed at the views one can see from the trails. I sleep better by Red Creek than any place I can amagine. The thought of these mills bother me.”

“One thing one could do is park close to a windmill and go bushwackin for 3 or4 days and find there way back.”

“The good news DD is that they will not be visible from most of the Sods, and certainly not from along Red Creek.

They will, however, be visible from Bear Rocks, the Allegheny Front just south of Bear Rocks (those rocks are accessible via bushwack), from parts of Raven Ridge, and from Cabin Mountain from Raven Ridge to the eastern continental divide. They will also be visible from most of the divide.

Some of those areas are outside the Mon NF, but there is hope they can ultimately be acquired for the Mon.

From Bear Rocks and the Front, 8-12 will likely be visible on the skyline to the north.

From Raven Ridge, Cabin Mountain, and the divide, many more will be visible along the eastern ridge.

Also, the Dominion Power windmill project in the general area of the power plant may or may not be visible from the western parts of the Sods near the divide.

Once you come down off the ridges though, they will not be visible.

So it's a good news-bad news scenario.

A hearing is coming up shortly before the WV PSC on NedPower's project. Also, NedPower may be running into trouble leasing land along the Front. They have a number of leases in hand, but some property owners are balking. A small group of landowners has filed in opposition to NedPower. The project will probably win approval, after which the landowners will have to decide whether to appeal in court.

The WV Highlands Conservancy is pretty much out of the picture as far as I can see. The Sierra Club's WV Chapter supports NedPower with stipulations about migrating birds and protecting views. I have no idea what that means, since the views are going to be marred and nobody knows for certain what the situation is with migrating birds.

The PSC does not seem to care about migrating birds or views. It is an ugly environment bound to get uglier. It's like open season on mountains down there.

I have a fear that my spring trip will be the "Farewell to the Sods as I Knew it Tour."

Yes Rich, it is almost like the windmill operators got together and decided the key ingredient is to promise big bucks for schools in the most rural counties or townships. And since it is "green" power, the environmental community is divided and unwilling to wage an all-out fight to protect these views or wilderness areas (declared or de facto).

The thing that keeps getting thrown up in WV is the issue of this is where the winds are. I wish a high wind would blow the friggin towers down once they are built!”

“Thanks for the info Geobeet. Dolly Sods will always be Dolly Sods. I don't think a windmill will deter me from my visit. There is just to much more beauty one can see. If ya contimplate on a windmill then thats what ya get. Look elsewhere. I know I will. Don't mean to sound harshe, but it looks like this is out of our control.”

“Really. Where is Timothy McVeigh when we need him???”

“The hearing on NedPower's application is being heard by the WV PSC today in Charleston.

It is being opposed by the Friends of the Allegheny Front and Friends of Blackwater.

It will probably be approved.

The fight has gotten ugly with all kinds of rumors and insults being hurled around.

The WV Highlands Conservancy will likely convene a one-day conference on wind power sometime over the winter to discuss its position on wind power, especially in light of recent developments.

I hope to be a part of that conference when it takes place.”