Wind Power News: Pennsylvania
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
The energy-environment marriage can work, but not this way
Sometimes the breezes don’t blow. Sometimes the sun doesn’t shine. Sometimes the wind turbines freeze. When “sometimes” happens in Pennsylvania in 2035, if we have eliminated fossil fuels and their 750,000 jobs (75,000 in this state) from our energy diet, what will happen? Consider Texas recently, where wind and solar provide 40 percent of the energy. A deep freeze and sunless days disabled the alternative supply, reducing its capability to 8 percent. People died. Texas should have been better prepared . . . Complete story »
Destroying Mother Earth
Within five years, Democrats plan to install 500 million solar panels and 60,000 wind turbines. Has anyone done a cost/benefit analysis? Are we saving Mother Earth or destroying it? Every step in the production of solar photovoltaic (PV) power systems requires a perpetual input of fossil fuels (i.e. coal). Up to 5-6 tons of carbon dioxide is produced per ton of metallurgical grade silicon smelted. Charcoal consumption in silicon production represents the deforestation of approximately 4 million acres. Polysilicon refineries . . . Complete story »
Year in review: Wind turbine battle continues
A multiyear dispute over proposed wind turbines in Penn Forest Township continued in county and state courts in 2020. County courts dealt two setbacks to the proposed turbines on property owned by the Bethlehem Authority. The company proposing the turbines appealed the decisions to a state appeals court. In April, Judge Steven Serfass sided with two property owners who appealed the approval of Atlantic Wind’s first application for 37 turbines. In May, Serfass again sided with property owners, upholding the . . . Complete story »
Windmill on fire near Mahanoy City Monday afternoon
Fire crews are responding to a windmill on fire near Mahanoy City. Just after 2:45pm, emergency personnel from Mahanoy City and Mahanoy Township were called to the windmill farm along Brandonville Road, Mahanoy Township for a windmill on fire. The black smoke from the fire could be seen as far as Frackville with Schuylkill County 911 reporting that they received multiple calls on it. Emergency personnel are at the scene and will let the fire burn out on it’s own . . . Complete story »
Fire damages Mahanoy Township windmill
MAHANOY CITY – Fire damaged a windmill Monday afternoon in Mahanoy Township. Around 2:45 p.m., firefighters from Mahanoy City’s West End Fire and Rescue Company were called to the Locust Ridge Wind Farm along Route 339 just north of the borough. Mahanoy City Fire Chief Dan Markiewicz said the fire was in the hub mechanism in windmill “T8,” located about a mile east of the entrance to the wind farm at Route 339. The chief said windmills use oil and other . . . Complete story »
Packer Twp. zoners deny wind farm
Zoning to allow a large windmill farm atop the Broad Mountain in Packer Twp. was denied Tuesday afternoon by the township zoning board. The board voted 3-0 to deny a special exception to the township zoning ordinance to operate the wind farm, and to deny three zoning variances associated with such an operation. Barbara Genetti, board vice chairwoman, said the denial centered around questions about the effects of sound from the wind turbines and their effect on property values. “Based . . . Complete story »
Packer wind farm hearing scheduled
A Packer Township zoning hearing for the application of Broad Mountain Power LLC to construct and operate a wind farm is scheduled for 5 p.m. Dec. 22. Remote attendance is encouraged via https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81685396713 or by dialing 1-929-205-6099. Enter Meeting ID 816 8539 6713. Visit www.packertownship.com for more information. Complete story »
Wind turbines threaten mountain
Wind turbines on Dunning and Evitts Mountain are a bad idea for Bedford Township and Bedford County for many reasons. The next time you drive to Altoona on 1-99, please look to your right about a half-mile before the Osterburg exit. That is where Dunning’s Mountain turns southwest and becomes Evitts Mountain. A wind developer hopes to locate 10 to 15 turbines and possibly more, on top of Evitts Mountain. Evitts Mountain is very steep and narrow. Wind turbines require . . . Complete story »
PECO plans hourly rates to encourage customers to shift energy use to off-peak periods
Peco next year will start selling electricity to residents at cheaper rates at nonpeak hours, such as overnight, in a change that could cut bills for customers who are smart about when they use power, like the owners of electric cars who charge them after midnight. The shift away from the current system, under which rates are the same around the clock, was approved Thursday by Pennsylvania regulators. It would also be an option for operators of shops and other . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines need attention
Bedford County residents may be interested in learning that a Maryland energy company is actively seeking to install 10 to 15 industrial wind turbines on Dunning/Evitts mountain. These turbines could be as high as 600 feet – taller than the statue of liberty, and almost as tall as the mountain itself. The mountain’s ridge top will need to be removed and flattened to provide the broad level surface required to install each turbine. The installation would span parts of Bedford, . . . Complete story »
