March 15, 2014
Maryland

Garrett commission to vote on Fair Wind easements

From Staff Reports | Cumberland Times-News | March 15, 2014 | www.times-news.com

OAKLAND – Garrett County commissioners are set to vote on whether to approve easements with Exelon for the Fair Wind project during the April 1 commission meeting. 

During an administrative session on Tuesday, County Attorney Gorman Getty and Patrick Hudnall, project engineer with the Garrett County Engineering Department, suggested that the commissioners, acting as the Garrett County Sanitary Commission, review and execute the deeds of easements with Exelon, according to Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator.

During an administrative meeting in December, the Maryland Public Service Commission approved Fair Wind Power Partners’ application to construct up to 15 wind turbines on Backbone Mountain – but with conditions.

Also in December, the Federal Aviation Administration determined that the wind turbines that are part of the Fair Wind project are no hazard to air navigation, but turbines must be marked and lighted with white paint and synchronized red lights.

The project, which would generate 30 megawatts of electricity, is slated to begin in the spring of 2014 and be operational in 2015.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the commissioners approved a revised permit fee schedule that was recommended by the Department of Community and Land Development. Chairman Bob Gatto voted in opposition of the fee increase.

During a Feb. 18 commission meeting, the commissioners voted to allow a two-week public comment period on the proposed increase in fees for grading, entrance and subdivision permits. There was no public comment on the fee increase, according to Pagenhardt.

The entrance permit fee for industrial increased from $10 to $50.

For a complete list of the fee increases, visit http://garrett

county.org/permits-inspections.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/03/15/garrett-commission-to-vote-on-fair-wind-easements/