Wind Power News: Pennsylvania
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Civil engineer wraps up testimony in turbine hearing
Civil engineer Philip C. Malitsch’s testimony before the Penn Forest Township Zoning Hearing Board concluded after three nights and a total of nine hours. Malitsch, who was called on behalf of the objectors, had provided an extensive review of the Atlantic Wind application and had pointed out his interpretation of errors, omissions and flaws in the application. One ongoing sticking point in Malitsch’s testimony was that Malitsch is an adjoining property owner to the project and an objector. Malitsch resides . . . Complete story »
Legal costs mount for opponents
Fighting an industrial wind farm can be expensive. The number of residents objecting to the Atlantic Wind turbine project proposed for Penn Forest Township is impressive, but the group is being strained by the cost of fighting the industrial wind giant. “We have raised over $120,000 exclusively for legal expenses,” said one of the best-known opponents of the project, Marcus Laurence. “But fatigue always sets in.” “We have been actively fighting for two years. It’s a shame that residents have . . . Complete story »
Deadline set for Broad Mountain windmills
HUDSONDALE – An international firm that wants to build large windmills on Broad Mountain faces a Sept. 19 deadline to appeal the denial of its application. Martin Cichowic, the township’s zoning officer and building code official, told the supervisors Tuesday night he rejected the application from Broad Mountain Power of Milford, Delaware. The firm, a subsidiary of Algonquin Power, doing business as Liberty Power, applied to build a 7,000-acre windmill farm that would be made up of 21 to 30 windmills . . . Complete story »
Another wind farm pitch for Broad Mountain area
An international firm has proposed building a massive wind turbine farm on Broad Mountain in Packer Twp. and Nesquehoning. On Aug. 16, Broad Mountain Power applied to the township to build a 7,000-acre windmill farm that would be made up of 21 to 30 windmills ranging in size from 480 to 650 feet high, with an approximate rotor diameter of 360 feet to 492 feet. The turbines would generate 80 to 90 megawatts of power. 80 megawatts of electricity would . . . Complete story »
Atlantic Wind hearings continue before the Penn Forest Township Zoning Hearing Board
The Penn Forest Zoning hearing board continued to hear from professional civil engineer Philip C. Malitsch on Monday night, only this time it was while Malitsch was being cross-examined by Atlantic Wind attorney Edward Greene. Before the cross-examination began, the hearing board held a brief executive session to discuss a number of “housekeeping items.” One of those items was the request by Atlantic Wind to re-advertise and repost the application to amend it to include the tax parcel which had . . . Complete story »
Tyrone council hears wind farm opposition
TYRONE – In July, when a representative of Algonquin Power Co. visited Borough Council to outline plans for doubling the size of the 50-megawatt Sandy Ridge Wind Farm on Ice Mountain above the borough, no opposition appeared. On Monday, it showed up in the form of concerns expressed by two area residents, who told council members of their fears for forest fragmentation, invasive plants and the killing of birds and bats. Those concerns didn’t elicit much response from council members – Mayor . . . Complete story »
Atlantic Wind attorney implies expert in Penn Forest is biased
PENN FOREST TWP., Pa. – The legal team representing Atlantic Wind LLC, a wind-focused subsidiary of Avangrid Renewables looking to place 28 wind turbines in Penn Forest Township, cross-examined a local civil engineer Monday night in an attempt to reveal any biases held and discredit his status as an expert in the hearing. Phil Malitsch, a professional engineer with Hanover Engineering and an objector to the project, faced cross-examination from attorney Edward Greene, who represented Atlantic Wind and looked to . . . Complete story »
Paint Township approves wind turbine ordinance
The Paint Township supervisors approved an ordinance Tuesday that limits the construction, placement and operation of wind turbines in the township. As of yet no companies have contacted the supervisors about constructing a wind farm, said Chairman Lewis Clark II. Although Paint Township hasn’t been targeted for a wind project, Clark said the supervisors are preparing for the future. The supervisors began exploring an ordinance after Chicago energy company Invenergy constructed weather measuring towers in Shade and Ogle townships in . . . Complete story »
Protect area from wind turbines
Carbon County is home to three of Pennsylvania’s top-rated and most heavily visited state parks. Hickory Run, Beltzville and Lehigh Gorge State Parks are loved by residents and visitors alike for their gorgeous views of the surrounding Pocono Mountains and unbroken forests stretching all the way to Blue Mountain. These views could soon be irrevocably scarred by the proposed development of an industrial wind generation facility consisting of up to 37 turbines on 300 acres of deforested land in the . . . Complete story »
Chicago wind company still eyeing Shaffer Mountain
After 20 months of research, Invenergy is still studying Shaffer Mountain’s viability for a wind farm. The Chicago-based energy company submitted plans for three meteorological towers to the Somerset County Planning Commission in November 2016 to study the wind, wildlife and wetlands on Shaffer Mountain in northeastern Somerset County. According to Beth Conley, senior manager of strategic communications at Invenergy, the project is still in the early stages. She added that it is too early to say when or if . . . Complete story »
