Rocky Forge Wind proposed in Botetourt County is NOT an example of a smart or proactive decision for a proud Virginia renewable energy future.
Green is not green if it isn't done right. Virginia mountain wind speeds are intermittent and unreliable.
Rocky Forge Wind is poorly sited. In addition to unverifable production it will negatively impact the following:
- a Biodiversity Hot Spot as documented by the Nature Conservancy and NatureServe
- a special exception Designated Wildlife Corridor
- water quality in fragile karst topography
- soil erosion from blasting and road construction in steep terrain
- multiple bat species and the well documented Eastern Golden Eagle populations and their migration pathways
- property values in a region that embraces it's scenic beauty and should not be deemed sacrifice communities
Only short term jobs will result from the construction phase and less than a handful of jobs (7-8) thereafter.
From the turbine manufacturing process through the construction phase the end result is zero reduction of carbon emissions.
Rocky Forge Wind and other utility scale ridge top wind would be a devastating, costly and embarrassing mistake for Virginia's non-renewable mountains.