What is the HNWD Project?
26 April 2006
Highland New Wind Development, owned by H. T. “Mac” McBride of Harrisonburg, VA, has proposed building as many as twenty-two 400-foot wind turbines on his land at Red Oak Knob on the crest of the Allegheny Mountain. The proposed facility would generate up to 39 megawatts of power. HRD generated a petition against construction of the wind turbines which was signed by over 1,000 residents and landowners of Highland County. HRD is opposed to the wind turbines for the following reasons:
- They would violate the existing (at the time) county height ordinance (which was changed solely to accommodate them);
- They would create an industrial use on land zoned for conservation and agriculture;
- They are not provided for in the county’s Comprehensive Plan;
- They would violate the pristine views of neighboring property owners (one of whom owns a mountaintop retreat whose business would be severely damaged by the wind turbines);
- They would violate the airspace restriction of a military training route;
- They would generate light pollution (flashing strobe lights) in an area renown for its dark night skies;
- Wind turbines have been known to kill bats and birds;
- They would not be in harmony with the rural nature of Highland County, which is cherished by the tourists and residents of the county.
- For more detailed information on the current status: HNWD News.
Photo simulation of Red Oak Knob with 400-foot wind turbines added. This is not intended to be a precise depiction of the HNWD proposal but just to give an idea how it might look. HNWD has not released a site plan.
Return to the top of this page | Return to the HRD Home Page
