Somerset County wind project proposed
Airtricty Stonycreek Wind Farm is looking to build four electricity-generating wind turbines in Allegheny Township – part of a broader project that includes
28 wind turbines in Stonycreek Township and three in Shade Township.
The project since has been taken over by E.ON Climate & Renewable, a German energy company. E.ON recently purchased the North American operations of Airtricty, which is based in Ireland.
The three townships in Somerset County were chosen for the project, set for next year, for several reasons.
“Wind, transmission and land,” said Douglas Colbeck, E.ON’s vice president of Northeast development.
“You have to be in close proximity to transmission lines and have landowners willing to lease,” Colbeck said by telephone from Austin, Texas.
The Stonycreek wind turbines will be located south of Route 30 and east of Route 160, just north of the Village of Boone, county planner Bill Lehman said.
Applications for the turbines were approved in May by county planning commission, he said.
E.ON hopes to have permits from the state Department of Environmental Protection in hand next month to begin work early next year, Colbeck said.
The four turbines in Allegheny will be constructed on property owned by the New Baltimore Sportsman’s Club, township supervisor Chairman Miles Costello Jr.
“I’m not for them and I’m not against them,” Costello said.
“As long as they follow the ordi-nance and don’t disturb the drinking water.”
A public hearing will be held at
6 p.m. July 16 at the township municipal building at 10792 Glades Pike.
Many believe with oil topping $140 a barrel and with political instability
in supply areas around the world, the shift toward renewable energy is necessary for the country’s energy independence.
“Renewable of all types – wind, hydro, solar – all of them have a pretty bright future,” Colbeck said. “The move toward lessening our dependence on foreign sources is going to continue for number of years.”
Public hearing
What: Allegheny Township public hearing about proposed windmills.
When: 6 p.m. July 16.
Where: Municipal building, 10792 Glades Pike.
By Patrick Buchnowski
4 July 2008
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