Resolution supports Coal River wind farm

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- More than 40 members of the House of Delegates have signed a resolution supporting the development of a wind farm on Coal River Mountain in Southern West Virginia.

Members of the group Coal River Mountain Watch hit the Capitol Thursday to lobby for the resolution, which was introduced this week by Raleigh County Democrat Sally Susman.

Advocates for developing a utility-scale wind farm say it would produce more jobs and tax revenue than Massey Energy's planned mountaintop removal mining operation.

If strip mining continues to expand in the area, they say, local communities won't be able to benefit economically from wind energy potential.

On Thursday, the group held a news conference with several delegates to promote the resolution.

"We are for West Virginia energy, no matter what it is," Susman said. "It is an energy state, and we just have to keep it open for everybody."

The project could make West Virginia a national leader in renewable energy, supporters say.

Another sponsor, Mike Manypenny, D-Taylor, said the state could have commercialized wind energy "a long time ago."

"It's time that we diversify West Virginia's resources," he said.