Battle over coal mining gets a windy twist

Mine critics: Why not use windmills instead of blowing up mountaintops

DOROTHY, W.Va. – Coal is the most reliable and affordable energy source in the United States, with some 52 billion tons of reserves still underground, the West Virginia Coal Association says. That’s enough to ensure a productive future for nearly 50,000 people who depend directly and indirectly on the state’s mines.

But reserves are getting harder to reach, and companies want cheaper ways to mine multiple seams.

In mountaintop removal, forests are clear-cut. Holes are drilled to blast apart the rock, and massive machines scoop out the exposed coal.

The rock and dirt left behind, the “spoil,” is dumped one 240-ton truckload at a time into adjacent valleys, changing the shape of the earth, lowering the mountain and covering streams.

Coal River Mountain Watch, the environmental group pushing the wind farm, says more Americans want clean energy, so it’s the perfect time to consider a more sustainable use.

It’s also the perfect place: For industrial wind farms, developers seek sites with wind speeds of at least 15.7 mph, the minimum to be labeled Class 4. Coal River Mountain catches winds that range from Class 4 to Class 7, with speeds of 19.7 mph or higher.

MSNBC