Chronology of Events in Pendleton County
Concerning the Wind Project

12 December 2006 PSC reschedules evidentiary hearing to begin 16 April 2007.

31 August 2006 PSC overturns its 24 July Order. Commission Procedural Order Hearing Set for 12 December 2006.

31 July 2006 Liberty Gap petitions the PSC for reconsideration of the July 24, 2006 Commission Order. Case reopened.

24 July 2006 PSC dismisses Liberty Gap's application without prejudice.

14 December 2005 National Research Council's Committee on Environmental Impact of Wind Energy Projects holds meeting in Charleston. Read Congressman Alan B. Mollohan's statement on the consequences of irresponsible development of wind energy. (PDF - 31 kb)

7 December 2005 Liberty Gap US WindForce submitted their 600-page application 05-1740-E-CS-CN for a siting certificate to authorize the construction and operation of a wholesale electric generating facility and related transmission support lines and associated interconnection facilities in Pendleton County.

May 2005 Liberty Gap Wind Force has yet to resubmit its application to the state Public Service Commission (PSC) for an operating permit for the Jack Mountain project. This time around the PSC is requiring highly detailed information, including information related to environmental impact, about the proposed construction of up to 50 wind turbines at that site. When permit applications come before the PSC, there will be public hearings.

January - April 2005 Throughout the winter months Friends of Beautiful Pendleton County has been the driving force to organize monthly meetings in Franklin and in Circleville to help citizens educate themselves about industrial wind turbine development. Speakers ranged from tourism experts, to Allegheny Power representatives and spokespeople from grassroots organizations opposed to this development.

21 December 2004 US Wind Force is on the agenda of the monthly meeting of the Pendleton County Economic and Community Development Authority to secure a transmission line right-of-way through the property on which the Pendleton Business Center (the former Hanover Shoe building) sits. US Wind Force cancels its appearance at this meeting. The EDA tables the motion to consider US Wind Force's request for a right-of-way over the Pendleton Business Center

There is a detailed map of the turbine site and proposed route of the transmission line at the Town Office for those who are interested in looking at it.

13 December 2004 Educational forum takes place, sponsored by Friends of Beautiful Pendleton County, with people there voicing their concerns about the wind turbine project.

10 December 2004 Special County Commission meeting is held to rescind the agreement with Liberty Gap Wind Power. Copy of the Termination Agreement

The Charleston Gazette, 10 Dec. 2004 "Pendleton Wind Project Hits Snags"

The president and chief operating officer of US Wind Force, Tom Matthews, said in a news release that Liberty Gap intends to resubmit the application before the end of March [2005] and continues to be committed to the wind energy development in this county near the
Virginia - West Virginia border.

7 December 2004 AM - Pendleton County Commission meeting in the morning is attended by those interested in and those incensed by the industrial wind project. Presentations are given by Zelene Harman, Robbie Sites and others. PM - First public meeting sponsored by Friends of Beautiful Pendleton County. PowerPoint presentation by Linda Cooper of Citizens for Responsible Wind Power [Tucker County].

4 December 2004 Organizational meeting of those opposed to the wind turbine project is held. It was decided to hold an open meeting the following Tuesday. Friends of Beautiful Pendleton County is founded by Robbie Sites.

25 Nov. 2004 An application for this project is published in the Pendleton Times, fulfilling the requirement that the public be notified of the project.

In the Nov. 18 permit application, the developers had asked for an expedited review by the PSC, Leslie Anderson [an attorney for the PSC] recommended that the PSC take the normal 270-day calendar for consideration of the permit request.

The Public Service Commission has 30 days to approve the application. (Link to the PSC web site.) Pendleton County property owners have 30 days to request that the PSC delay approval of this application so that more information can be gathered. [This becomes moot if US Wind Force withdraws its application.]

16 Nov. 2004 The County Commission signs a Facility Development Agreement with Liberty Gap Wind Force, a subsidiary owned by US Wind Force.