August 10, 2011
Pennsylvania

Tower trouble: Test tower for wind turbine upsets officials

By ERIC TICHY, The Times Observer, www.timesobserver.com 10 August 2011

The Glade Township Supervisors are miffed about a 100-foot wind turbine test tower recently placed on Coal Bed Road near the Elk Township line.

“I’m a little concerned about these companies that came in and put this test wind mill up,” Glade Township Chairman Dave Sedon said during a recent Council of Governments (COG) meeting.

Sedon said he came across the test tower two months ago and was unaware of any permits issued through the township.

“I never saw anything come across my desk for this thing,” he said.

Test towers are built by companies to test wind speeds at various locations and altitudes. Companies determine whether those sites can sustain a wind farm after at least two years of testing.

One such tower already exists on Coal Bed Road, which, according to Warren County Planning and Zoning Director Dan Glotz, was built two years ago.

“I know of one up there right now,” Glotz said during the COG meeting. “I know we have not issued a permit for another on that road.”

Gary Snook, Warren County zoning officer, said on Monday that he was approached by a company earlier this year regarding the recently-built tower, but was told the structure would stand alone without guide wires and be moved within a year. He added a permit wasn’t necessary for what he was told would be built, adding permits are issued when a tower is proposed to be built under certain height.

“I was told it was going to be a very small tower,” Snook said.

But when the tower was built last April, Snook said it was apparent changes were made in its design.

“What was built wasn’t what we talked about,” he said.

Snook said the tower at its current location requires a permit, based on its height and need for guide wires. He added he will contact the company and hopes to clear up the confusion.

“We are going to go through the proper procedures,” he said. “We will try and get ahold of the company.”

Glotz said Tuesday that no legal action will be taken as long as the company files for a permit.

Snook did not readily have the name of the company or the owner of the property when asked Monday, but said he will contact them both shortly. Snook said the property was most likely leased by the landowner to erect the tower.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/08/10/tower-trouble-test-tower-for-wind-turbine-upsets-officials/