Support for wind turbines
I am writing this correspondence due to the recent articles in the Herald-Standard pertaining to the negative feedback on the proposed South Chestnut Wind Farm. I am a resident of Fayette County and I enjoy living here. I love this county and my country. I have served my country in the military and continue to serve the community with my professional career course and work.
I am an electrical engineer and work as a project manager for a local electrical contractor. I have had the pleasure to work as a design/construction engineer on the Casselman Wind Energy project in the neighboring county. I have also been involved with the Mill Run, Somerset, and Mount Storm wind energy projects. It has been a great experience to work with such great teams in a thriving industry, helping to reduce emissions. I have worked in other power generation facilities. I am impressed with the low impact and amazing look of the wind farms compared to the coal-fired facilities that I have work in, around and on.
I am proud that the Mill Run Wind project is located in Fayette County and I am looking forward to seeing more renewable energy in this county. I understand that the Fayette County Zoning Hearing Board had voted against this project, but I do hope that the county will consider reexamining this opportunity for us, our community, and our environment. These facilities will employ many local taxpayers as well as supply an influx of revenue from other workers and companies during construction, as well as supplying permanent positions after construction.
I do have a general knowledge of South Chestnut but it is not as extensive as in the other projects I have mentioned; however, I have been following some of the details. I have noted a few negative letters to the editor in the Herald-Standard, one saying that the turbines were too close. I have seen the locations for the turbines and the distances for setbacks that have been employed for the South Chestnut Wind Project far exceed that of all of the surrounding wind farms. These turbines are essentially further away from any homes than they are on the other projects I have worked. I also understand that there is confusion on where these turbines would be located. The turbines will be to the south of Mud Pike Road. One writer made it sound like they would be on top of the Summit Hotel when they are indeed quite a few miles south of that location.
This is an opportunity to advance progress that will bring some good jobs to the area. Again, I hope our county will reexamine the information and bring this project on line for the good of the county, our country, and its future.
Jeffrey S. Moran
W.R. Casteel Co. Inc.
Hopwood