By Jean Braithwaite
tribune correspondent
KEYSER — By a majority vote of board members, the Mineral County Development Authority will support the US WindForce Pinnacle project of 23 turbines and issue a letter to the West Virginia Public Service Commission confirming the approval.
In addition, a policy statement was unanimously passed during the regular Tuesday morning meeting of the development agency dealing with continued support of the growth of green industries within the county. Those industries would include wind, geothermal, solar, hydroelectric, and other energy-generating alternatives.
Four people, including two from US WindForce, spoke before the Development Authority, giving facts and seeking the endorsement of the Pinnacle project.
Dave Friend, vice president of sales and marketing for US WindForce, gave a reminder to those present that just one year ago this July, an informational presentation was made by wind power company to the Development Authority.
“We were seeking support then, and now we are asking for a specific endorsement,” he said.
He also stated minor changes have taken place in the overall plans for the Pinnacle Project, and those plans “are now in front of the PSC.”
Naming the construction cost originally estimated at $118 million, Friend citied the estimation amount is now $131 million.
Explaining that the rise of construction costs will be reflected in the “raw numbers of property taxes,” Friend stated the division of tax revenue will be divided three ways — the school system, the County Commission and the state.
Friend distributed information to those in attendance concerning the tax split, with the entry of Year One revealing an estimated property tax garnered at $460,312. Of that, Mineral County Schools would receive $326,591, the county would receive $131,787, and the amount going to the state would be $1,933.
The pamphlet showed that the estimated tax revenue based over a 25-year time frame would increase for the first six years, than a decline would be shown, with a factor available for added tax monies if and when new parts are installed on the wind turbines.
Friend briefly mentioned a community-based board, now in the planning stage with no members yet to be appointed, that would manage the funding of local projects.
Jim Cookman, vice president of project development for WindForce, stated, “I want to echo Dave’s statement,” adding the PSC is now in the process of looking for input from the community in the interest of the public.
On hand representing the construction trades was Cliff Wendricks, who stated, “I encourage the Development Authority to endorse the Pinnacle Project.”
Mentioning that the approval would bring in local revenue, along with employment, he citied, “Jobs are critical.”
Burlington resident Nick Boinovych, a proponent of alternative energy, also spoke in “full support of the WindForce project.”
“Since the day we were born, we have been exposed to the three natural forces of sun, air, and water, concentrating on fossil energy, and we must encourage alternative energy,” he said.
Some discussion about a lack of a business plan for the wind turbine project was brought to the table as authority member Jennie Shaffer asked for an amended attachment to the approval vote.
“I am not against the project, but we have no knowledge of a business plan,” she said.
She referred to the fact that without a business plan on behalf of the Pinnacle Project, “things could change over the next 20 years or even over the next 10 minutes.”
Questioning the fact as to how often the knowledge of a plan is available for county businesses, Polly Jo Hightower wanted “the specific support to be progressive.”
Mona Ridder, executive director for the Development Authority, added to this discussion by saying that business plans are sometimes made public and sometimes not made public.
She referred to the Fort Ashby Business and Technology Park, by stating, “In our park we ask prospects for a business plan.”
City of Keyser Councilman Dave Sowers brought that particular discussion to a close by saying, “Based on the information on hand today, we need to support the Pinnacle Project for the good of the whole county.”
