June 24, 2016
Pennsylvania

Carbon County community outraged over turbine project

By Kelly Choate | WBRE/WYOU | Published 06/23 2016 | www.pahomepage.com

Some people in a Carbon County community are outraged over a proposed wind turbine project. A large crowd showed up at tonight’s zoning board hearing in Penn Forest Township to listen to the testimonies.

“We just think it’s horrible! We came to the Poconos for the beauty of it, for the mountains, the wildlife, and we feel this is a commercial, industrial project,” Kevin Powers of Albrightsville said.

Powers wants to stop about 40 wind turbines from coming to Carbon County.

Iberdrola Renewables is proposing the plan that would affect people in Penn Forest Township and surrounding areas.

Lori Labuz of Penn Forest Township, “This is my backyard! With all my lovely bear friends and I do not want to lose them! They will disappear!” Lori Labuz of Penn Forest Township said.

Before the zoning board hearing even started, swarms of people stood in line, waiting for the doors of the fire company to open. And when they did – dozens were stuck outside because the building was at capacity.

Penn Forest Township resident, Bill Mauro, said “There’s a growing number of people who have educated themselves about wind turbines and the negative impacts to those residents living close by,” Bill Mauro of Penn Forest Township said.

Nearly everyone in the crowd is against the project, and the few who support it were quickly silenced.

Donald Miles of Bethlehem said, “There is no evidence nationally that turbines feminist property values of nearby homes!” Donald Miles of Bethlehem said.

Lawyers on both sides of the issue heard from expert witnesses about the environment, noise, property values, and tourism.

“We’re very optimistic! I think we have the right momentum, the right people behind us, a lot of very smart people, and I think we can defeat it!”

The third zoning board hearing on this subject is scheduled July 14th at 7 p.m.

Eyewitness News did ask a representative from Iberdrola Renewables for a statement, was declined. The renewable energy company had previously told us that the ability to generate energy locally with little impact on the environment is the ultimate benefit to the local community.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/06/24/carbon-county-community-outraged-over-turbine-project/