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.
W. Penn to advertise for new windmill ordinance
West Penn Township hopes to soon have a new windmill ordinance in place. On a 2-1 vote, with Supervisor Ted Bogosh opposed, the township’s board of supervisors agreed last week to advertise for adopting a new windmill ordinance. The ordinance will be scheduled for adoption sometime in November, supervisors said. Earlier this month, supervisors agreed to have board solicitor Holly Heintzelman request the GIS information from the Audubon Society in the township’s name and use the township’s email address. Heintzelman . . .
W. Penn looks at new windmill ordinance
West Penn Township supervisors on Tuesday took action geared toward a new windmill ordinance. On a 2-0 vote, supervisors agreed to have board solicitor Holly Heintzelman request the GIS information from the Audubon Society in the township’s name and use the township’s email address. Board Chairman Jim Dean was absent. After the meeting, Heintzelman said there’s a provision in the ordinance that says wind turbines shall be 1,000 feet below the Kittatinny Ridge. “They can’t be located any closer than . . .
Judge hears wind turbine case
Carbon County Judge Steven Serfass on Tuesday heard oral arguments regarding whether or not Atlantic Wind had properly asserted a deemed approval of an application for a special exception that was pending before the Penn Forest Township zoning hearing board. In April, Atlantic Wind LLC claimed that the Penn Forest Township Zoning Hearing Board had failed to schedule a hearing in a timely manner, allowing the company to assert that its application for a special exception to build up to . . .
Did zoners miss a legal deadline to decide turbine case?
The acrimonious debate over whether turbines should rise from the ridges surrounding Bethlehem’s water supply has generated broad questions about clean energy, wildlife and property rights. But whether the project moves forward may depend on how Carbon County Judge Steven R. Serfass answers a more narrow question: whether the Penn Forest Zoning Hearing Board blew a legal deadline to decide the case. The applicant, Atlantic Wind, argues its zoning request for a special exception has “deemed approval” because the township . . .
Disputed wind turbine issue heads to court; appeal filed
The dispute over a proposed wind turbine farm in Penn Forest Township heads to court again Tuesday. On May 17 after seven public hearings, the Penn Forest Zoning Hearing Board denied Atlantic Wind’s application to construct up to 37 wind turbines and an operations/safety building on property belonging to the Bethlehem Water Authority. The board issued a written decision of its findings on June 28. The board held the May 17 hearing even though Atlantic Wind had advertised a public . . .
Paint Township exploring wind farm regulations
Paint Township is looking to join a list of area communities that regulate wind farms. Given the fact an Illinois-based energy company is studying the idea of adding windmills in the township next door, it makes sense for the township to be prepared for the possibility, too, township Chairman Lewis Clark II said. “We’ve got our solicitor, Dennis Stofko, reviewing other community wind ordinances right now, and he’s hopefully going to have something for us to consider in a month . . .
Ogle Township supervisors stick by wind law
Ogle Township supervisors spent the past four months reading through stacks of documents provided by a group of township landowners working to convince the board to bolster a local law that regulates wind farms. But in the end, supervisors said they didn’t find a single, supportable reason to amend their law. Board members decided against changing their 2007 windmill regulations at their meeting Monday. In a 3-0 vote, supervisors declined the residents’ petition pressing for greater setbacks. They then spent . . .
Turbines still an issue in Carbon
Wind turbines dotting the hills above Penn Forest Township are still a real possibility. Last week Carbon County Judge Steven Serfass issued an order on the Penn Forest Zoning Hearing Board to respond to a request by Atlantic Wind to enter additional testimony on the record. Atlantic Wind LLC filed an application on April 1, 2016, seeking to build up to 37 wind turbines ranging in height from 400 to 525 feet on property belonging to the Bethlehem Water Authority. . . .
Paint Township exploring wind farm ordinance, police coverage
A wind farm ordinance is still in the works for Paint Township as officials draw examples from neighboring municipalities. Supervisor Lewis Clark II said the township’s solicitor is looking at five other wind farm ordinances from municipalities, including Adams Township in Cambria County. Officials will pick pieces of those ordinances and use them to write their own. The interest in a wind farm ordinance first arose at a township meeting July 5. Clark said the supervisors are learning from neighboring . . .
Fight over turbine farm near Bethlehem reservoir continues
In rejecting a wind energy project near Bethlehem’s reservoirs, the Penn Forest Zoning Hearing Board has made a 31-page argument of technical, legal and environmental reasons on why turbines don’t belong along the wooded ridges that surround the prized Wild Creek watershed. But a written decision, released to The Morning Call this week under a Right-to-Know request, could be moot because the applicant, Atlantic Wind, believes the board missed a legal deadline to resume the hearing. Atlantic Wind, a subsidiary . . .
