GC Commissioners Oppose Placing Wind Turbines On State Property

GC Commissioners Oppose Placing Wind Turbines On State Property

Feb. 7, 2008
The Board of Garrett County Commissioners issued an official statement on Tuesday opposing the placement of wind turbines on state land in the county. The vote was unanimous.

Pennsylvania-based U.S. Wind Force recently asked Gov. Martin O'Malley for leases on about 400 acres in the Savage River and Potomac state forests. The private company wants to construct about 100 40-story tall wind turbines.

Commissioner Ernie Gregg said the board's vote was based on the public's strong outpouring of opposition to the proposal.

"Personally, I feel it's an inappropriate use of public lands," he added.

The county commissioners had deferred any official comment on the issue until the Department of Natural Resources conducted two public hearings, which were held last week in McHenry and Annapolis.

About 500 people attended the local event, and more than 200 were at the Annapolis hearing. The vast majority of those who spoke at both hearings were opposed to using public lands for private energy projects.

"I still support wind power, on the whole," said Commissioner Fred Holliday. "Nothing has changed my opinion on that."

But, he noted, public lands were for recreational use. He added that he supports management of state forests and did not feel that current logging practices would have the same effect as turbines.

Commissioner Denny Glotfelty said it was important to preserve public lands for the enjoyment of future generations.

"As for private property, there is no zoning [county-wide in Garrett County], and it's the private property owners' decision," he said about the construction of wind turbines.

Director John Nelson, Department of Planning and Land Development, indicated that the county may pursue legislation to regulate and license the use of wind energy in the county. But, he quickly added, the regulations could not be applied to state lands.

The commissioners informed O'Malley about their position in a letter on Tuesday. A copy was also sent to DNR Secretary John R. Griffin.

"We are aware that your administration has a strong interest in looking at alternatives to augment [and] increase the Maryland electric production," the commissioners wrote. "We believe that wind generation is a significant supplement to not only the state of Maryland's energy independence but also nationwide.

"Having said this, we are writing to voice our opposition to constructing wind turbines on state of Maryland property in Garrett and Allegany counties. The board of county commissioners has supported and will continue to support the construction of wind generation turbines by Clipper Windpower and Synergics Energy."

Those two companies have proposed projects for private lands in Garrett County.

"By far, the majority of public opinion received by this office and conveyed at both public hearings is in opposition to the construction of wind generation turbines on state land," the commissioners continued in their letter to the governor. "This opinion is shared by those parties who support wind energy on private property."

County administrator Monty Pagenhardt said the commissioners "took some heat" for not announcing their position on the state forest project earlier. The county attorney and other staff members had advised them to wait until after the hearings, Pagenhardt noted.

"I feel it was appropriate," said Director James Hinebaugh, Garrett County Department of Economic Development, about the commissioners' decision to defer their announcement. "They let the public process run its course. They allowed the proponents to have their day in court, so to speak."

In doing so, Hinebaugh added, the commissioners did not give into public pressure or attack the governor and state.

Glotfelty stressed the im-portance of keeping an open relationship with the governor and DNR secretary.

"We have to work with them," he said.

Gregg said it is standard protocol to wait until after a public hearing is held before rendering an opinion on an issue. If the commissioners had presented an opinion before the hearings, Gregg said, they would have been accused of making up their minds before members of the public had a chance to present their views.

The DNR will accept comments about placing turbines on state land until March 3 at dnr.state.md.us.sustainability/wpm.

Secretary Griffin will review the public hearing and online comments and make a recommendation to O'Malley and the Maryland Board of Public Works, which is comprised of the governor, treasurer Nancy Kopp, and comptroller Peter Franchot.

"It's up to those three whether it goes or not," Holliday said about the turbine project.