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 do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Year in review: Wind turbine battle continues
A multiyear dispute over proposed wind turbines in Penn Forest Township continued in county and state courts in 2020. County courts dealt two setbacks to the proposed turbines on property owned by the Bethlehem Authority. The company proposing the turbines appealed the decisions to a state appeals court. In April, Judge Steven Serfass sided with two property owners who appealed the approval of Atlantic Wind’s first application for 37 turbines. In May, Serfass again sided with property owners, upholding the . . . Complete story »
Windmill on fire near Mahanoy City Monday afternoon
Fire crews are responding to a windmill on fire near Mahanoy City. Just after 2:45pm, emergency personnel from Mahanoy City and Mahanoy Township were called to the windmill farm along Brandonville Road, Mahanoy Township for a windmill on fire. The black smoke from the fire could be seen as far as Frackville with Schuylkill County 911 reporting that they received multiple calls on it. Emergency personnel are at the scene and will let the fire burn out on it’s own . . . Complete story »
Fire damages Mahanoy Township windmill
MAHANOY CITY – Fire damaged a windmill Monday afternoon in Mahanoy Township. Around 2:45 p.m., firefighters from Mahanoy City’s West End Fire and Rescue Company were called to the Locust Ridge Wind Farm along Route 339 just north of the borough. Mahanoy City Fire Chief Dan Markiewicz said the fire was in the hub mechanism in windmill “T8,” located about a mile east of the entrance to the wind farm at Route 339. The chief said windmills use oil and other . . . Complete story »
Packer Twp. zoners deny wind farm
Zoning to allow a large windmill farm atop the Broad Mountain in Packer Twp. was denied Tuesday afternoon by the township zoning board. The board voted 3-0 to deny a special exception to the township zoning ordinance to operate the wind farm, and to deny three zoning variances associated with such an operation. Barbara Genetti, board vice chairwoman, said the denial centered around questions about the effects of sound from the wind turbines and their effect on property values. “Based . . . Complete story »
Packer wind farm hearing scheduled
A Packer Township zoning hearing for the application of Broad Mountain Power LLC to construct and operate a wind farm is scheduled for 5 p.m. Dec. 22. Remote attendance is encouraged via https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81685396713 or by dialing 1-929-205-6099. Enter Meeting ID 816 8539 6713. Visit www.packertownship.com for more information. Complete story »
Wind turbines threaten mountain
Wind turbines on Dunning and Evitts Mountain are a bad idea for Bedford Township and Bedford County for many reasons. The next time you drive to Altoona on 1-99, please look to your right about a half-mile before the Osterburg exit. That is where Dunning’s Mountain turns southwest and becomes Evitts Mountain. A wind developer hopes to locate 10 to 15 turbines and possibly more, on top of Evitts Mountain. Evitts Mountain is very steep and narrow. Wind turbines require . . . Complete story »
Packer reopens record on windmill hearing
The Packer Twp. Zoning Hearing Board met Friday afternoon to reopen the record of a public hearing into a proposal to build a windmill farm in the township. Broad Mountain Power LLC has applied for a special exception and variances to the Packer Twp. zoning ordinance for construction and operation of a wind farm to be constructed and operated on properties located generally north and west of Dennison Road in the southwest portion of Packer Twp. and which is in . . . Complete story »
Packer wind farm hearing scheduled
A Packer Township Zoning Hearing for the application of Broad Mountain Power LLC to construct and operate a wind farm is scheduled for 5 p.m. Nov. 6. Remote attendance is available via https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82097191172 or by dialing 1-929-205-6099. Enter meeting ID 82097191172. Visit www.packertownship.com for more information. Complete story »
Boundary line dispute case continues
The Bethlehem Water Authority’s property line dispute with a local hunting club continues to play out in county court. The Palmerton Hunting and Fishing Association and the water authority disagree over the location of the boundary between their properties in Penn Forest Township. The dispute came to light after the authority proposed to use its property for wind turbines, three of which would be located on the land in question. The wind turbine project is currently on hold as two . . . Complete story »
Atlantic Wind’s turbine appeal denied
Carbon County Court of Common Pleas Judge Steven R. Serfass has denied a land use appeal filed by Atlantic Wind LLC and the Bethlehem Authority, seeking to erect a wind turbine project in Penn Forest Township. This was the second of two proposed wind turbine projects to be decided before the court. In April, Serfass granted the appeal of two Penn Forest Township property owners who sought to stop the construction of 37 525-foot-tall wind turbines in the township. The second . . . Complete story »
