August 3, 2011
Pennsylvania

Commissioners agree to tunnel easement

Judy D.J. Ellich, Daily American reporter, www.dailyamerican.com

The Somerset County commissioners agreed to prepare an easement sought by a wind farm developer to run power transmission lines over the Great Allegheny Passage at Big Savage Tunnel.

The 80-foot easement will not affect access or usage of the trail, Commissioner Jim Marker said.

The line is owned by Big Savage LLC, a subsidiary of EverPower Wind Holdings of New York. The developer plans to construct a 60-turbine wind facility on about 8,500 acres in Southampton, Northampton, Larimer and Greenville townships.

Big Savage agreed to pay $10,000 for the easement, said county Solicitor Dan Rullo, who will be drawing up the final papers.

“The wind farm developer agreed to excavate a permanent overlook area with two covered picnic tables on the east portal of the tunnel,” he said.

There is a need for an overlook there, Marker said.

“People congregate there. There is a beautiful view down through the Cumberland Valley,” he said.

He complimented the wind farm developer.

“This company has been very generous,” he said.

Big Savage LLC will throw in a self-composting toilet that costs about $25,000 to replace a port-a-potty at the site, he said.

To date, no windmills have been erected at the facility, according to Rullo.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/08/03/commissioners-agree-to-tunnel-easement/