September 11, 2009

Wise County officials have given their blessing to wind turbines near where a coal-fired power plant is also under construction.

The Board of Supervisors on Thursday, without discussion, approved a zoning change to allow Dominion Virginia Power and BP Energy to develop a wind-energy project.

The two companies are assessing whether an area along the Kentucky border is conducive to building turbines. If the companies go forward, they would build 50 to 60 turbines to produce 150 megawatts of power.

Adam Wells of Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards, an environmental coalition fighting the power plant, spoke in favor of the wind project.

Dominion's 585-megawatt coal-fired plant is under construction outside St. Paul.