Developers push ahead with wind farm

Developers push ahead with wind farm

	Published : Tue, 31 Jul 2007 23:01 By : Agencies Print this Story

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Dominion Resources and Shell WindEnergy Inc. plan to go ahead with construction of 50 more turbines at the Mount Storm wind farm despite an ongoing legal challenge.

The second phase of construction is scheduled to begin next year if the project receives all necessary permits and approvals, Dominion and Shell WindEnergy said Tuesday. The 50 additional turbines will be capable of generating 100 megawatts of electricity -- enough to power 25,000 homes, the companies said.

Work on the project's first phase is nearing completion, with 82 turbines capable of generating 164 megawatts of electricity -- enough for 41,000 homes -- due to be connected to the region's power grid by the fourth quarter, Dominion and Shell said.

The $300 million wind farm still faces a lawsuit filed by homeowners near the northeastern West Virginia project. They contend their property values will plunge. In June, the state Supreme Court reinstated their legal challenge to the project.

The developers, however, aren't concerned.

'We are confident that this is a good project and a good location for it and it's going to go forward,' Dominion spokesman Dan Genest said.

Dominion and Shell plan to own the wind farm through a jointly owned company called NedPower Mount Storm.

Dominion Chief Executive Thomas Farrell II called the project a great opportunity for the company to increase its renewable energy portfolio and provide reliable energy to customers.

'This expansion is another step we are taking to meet our customers' demand for electricity in an environmentally sound manner,' Farrell said.

Dominion Resources is the parent of Dominion Virginia Power. The parent company's exploration and production unit is based in Houston. Dominion Hope, a Dominion Resources subsidiary based in Clarksburg, is West Virginia's second-largest gas company.

Dominion Resources' stock rose 32 cents, or 0.38 percent, to $84.22 on Tuesday.