WV Court Rules Wind Farm Map Didn't Have to be Perfect

The West Virginia Supreme Court has ruled that the state's Public Service Commission (PSC) acted properly when it approved a plan to build 124 giant wind-power turbines in Greenbrier County. The court rejected arguments by the project's opponents that the map submitted to the PSC by Beech Ridge Energy LLC was inadequate.

More of the court's opinion from the Charleston Gazette:

Justices conceded that Beech Ridge did not submit the size map required by PSC regulations and left some churches, cemeteries, roads and springs off the map it submitted.

The court agreed with the PSC that "the significance of local cemeteries, and whether local roads constitute major transportation routes, are matters upon which reasonable minds can differ."

"We believe that the commission properly determined that Beech Ridge's map did not warrant dismissal of the project as it substantially complied with the siting rules," the court ruling said. ridges, the state Supreme Court ruled Monday.

The unanimous opinion would appear to allow the $300 million project to go forward.