State environmental regulators have approved a commercial wind farm in Botetourt County, clearing the way for up to 25 giant turbines to be built atop a remote ridgeline.
In a decision Thursday, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality ruled that putting the 550-foot-tall turbines on top of North Mountain would not pose an undue risk to wildlife and its surrounding habitat — with one exception.
Acknowledging that the spinning blades could strike flying bats, DEQ accepted a plan by developer Apex Clean Energy to turn the turbines off at night during the warmer parts of the year, when bats are most active.
The Charlottesville-based Apex is now in line to build the first commercial wind farm in Virginia.
