energy

The Appalachia America Energy Research Center in Wise is now open. The Center is the first of five energy research centers slated to open.

According to the Roanoke Times, a Chicago-based clean energy company envisions a wind farm of 15 turbines atop a portion of Poor Mountain in Roanoke County. Invenergy's power-generating windmills would be 443 feet from base to the highest tip of a blade and occupy ridge lines along what has been described as one of Virginia's windiest land-based wind power generation sites.  Bent Mountain resident Ed Elswick, a member of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors, said he thinks the wind farm's development could be a good thing for the county. It would provide green energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and might even improve the appearance of Poor Mountain, he said.

An Invenergy official repeatedly emphasized that the Poor Mountain proposal is in its preliminary stages and that Invenergy plans to communicate early and often with county officials, Bent Mountain residents, officials for the Blue Ridge Parkway and others.

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According to the Danville Register and Bee, "The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors wants to know why county residents have seen their power bills from Danville Utilities reach astronomical levels.

The board unanimously voted during its regular meeting Monday night to send a letter to the Danville Utility Commission asking for an explanation as to why residents’ bi-monthly utilities expenses have in some cases more than doubled recently. Residents expressed dismay at higher-than-normal energy bills during the meeting at the General District Courtroom in Chatham.

Ringgold resident Scott Barker saw his bi-monthly bill from Danville Utilities nearly triple over a four month period recently. Barker said his bill went from $274 in September-October to $731 in November-December."

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According to the Bristol Herald-Courier, Virginians in these regions will soon see relief from skyrocketing utility bills under a bill sponsored by Senator Phil Puckett (D-Lebanon).  Governor McDonnell is expected to sign the measure into law either today or Friday, which will suspend a 12.5 cent rate increase by American Electric Power (known as Appalachian Power in Virginia).  AEP imposed the interim increase while waiting on a final determination by the State Corporation Commission (SCC) later.  Puckett's bill also prohibits that practice of imposing temporary increases while awaiting approval from the SCC. AEP has agreed to drop its increase and will refund one billing cycle's payment during the period of the rate increase.

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The House of Delegates passed Tuesday a measure to temporarily suspend a rate increase by Appalachian Power Company.  The utility already has a rate increase request pending before the State Corporation Commission but has imposed the 12.8 cent rate increase since December. The House also kept alive a bill that would return Appalachian Power to an older regulatory scheme that may prohibit future rate increases. The suspension measure is likely to pass the Senate and would take effect as soon as Governor McDonnell signs the bill into law. Homeowners and businesses would began to feel some relief soon thereafter.

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