Witness: W.Va. windfarm won’t risk endangered Indiana bats, which haven’t been found at site
By APFriday, October 23, 2009
Witness: WVa wind farm no threat to endangered bat
GREENBELT, Md. — An environmental consultant hired by developers of a proposed West Virginia wind farm told a federal judge he believes the project won’t harm the endangered Indiana bat.
Consultant Russ Romme performed risk assessments for the proposed windfarm. He testified Friday in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Md., in a bench trial in which opponents are seeking to force developers to obtain permits under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Romme testified that his firm’s netting surveys didn’t find the bat and acoustic surveys the plaintiffs say show evidence of the bat aren’t reliable.
The Washington-based Animal Welfare Institute and the Williamsburg, W.Va.-based Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy filed suit against Rockville, Md.-based Beech Ridge Energy and Invenergy Wind over the proposed Greenbrier County, W.Va., wind farm.
