Windmill turbines; joint subcommittee to study efficacy of generating electricity therefrom. (HJ663)

Introduced By

Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond) with support from 7 copatrons, whose average partisan position is:

Those copatrons are Del. Mamye BaCote (D-Newport News), Del. Al Eisenberg (D-Arlington), Del. Frank Hall (D-Richmond), Del. Bob Hull (D-Falls Church), Del. Jeion Ward (D-Hampton), Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria), Sen. Lionell Spruill (D-Chesapeake)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate

Description

Study; Efficacy of generating electricity from windmill turbines. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the efficacy of generating electricity from windmill turbines in the Commonwealth. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/12/2009Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/14/09 098541653
01/12/2009Referred to Committee on Rules
02/10/2009Left in Rules

Comments

James Swiggett writes:

As you consider this bill please do not approve any legislation that would allow development on National Forest lands. Once this valuable natural resouce is gone it is gone forever. Thank you!

Waldo Jaquith writes:

This legislation does not address development within national forests.

gregory sprigg writes:

As the committee begins to "...study the efficacy of generating electricity from windmill turbines in the Commonwealth..." please be mindful that wind power is not benign and that appropriate siting of wind projects is critical in order to minimize serious negative environmental impacts. Wind projects are enormous and if poorly sited can destroy wildlife habitat - not just for birds and bats - but also for deer and bear and other wildlife on the ground. This impacts human use of the forest, too - from recreation and hunting - to clean air and water. Proposals to sight projects in the GW National Forest should be rejected. Each turbine requires 5-10 acres of clearcut for a base, the project would require building miles of new roads in the forest - all of which would seriously disrupt wildlife and also damage the forest ecosystem. Our forests are our largest single source of clean air and water - and our forests are an endangered resource. Gigantic wind energy projects only produce electricity roughly 3o% of the time - literally only when the wind blows. Wind power has potential as a small contribution toward our needed energy independence, but siting of projects to reduce environmental damage is critical. Let's not destroy the environment in the name of saving it.