West Virginia wind-farm construction moratorium dies in committee

Philadelphia (Platts)--28Feb2006

A West Virginia Senate bill that would have placed a moratorium on the
construction of new wind farms in the state until the Public Service
Commission promulgated new wind-farm rules has died in committee and cannot be
revived this year, spokesmen for two of the bill's co-sponsors said Tuesday
morning. 

     Senate Bill 665 was developed in response to growing concern among
residents in counties where wind projects had been proposed that they would
have a negative impact on scenic resources; some environmentalists also have
raised concern about the impact of wind turbines on bat and bird populations.

     Several wind projects are under development in West Virginia, including a
300-MW Shell WindEnergy project in Grant and Tucker counties, a 250-MW US Wind
Force project in Grant County, a 186-MW Invenergy LLC project in Greenbrier
County and a 125-MW US Wind Force project in Pendleton County. 

     Spokesmen for the moratorium's bill's co-sponsors declined comment on
whether they will submit a similar measure next year.

                     ---Housley Carr, newsdesk@platts.com

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