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.
Wind turbine testimony wraps up; decision expected Dec. 17
Testimony concluded Tuesday night in the battle for Atlantic Wind to gain a permit to erect 28 wind turbines on land owned by Bethlehem Water Authority in Penn Forest Township. Written briefs are due to the zoning board by Dec. 7. The zoning hearing board will meet on Dec. 17 to deliberate and announce its decision in the matter. A lawsuit on the original application for 37 turbines on the property is pending in Carbon County court. That decision is . . . Complete story »
Penn Forest nears decision on wind turbines
PENN FOREST TWP., Pa. – Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Penn Forest Township Zoning Hearing Board will announce its decision on an application for 28 wind turbines on Dec. 17, after months of zoning hearings for a special exception application submitted by Atlantic Wind LLC. The date was announced as the final night of testimony wrapped up Tuesday evening. Proponents of the wind turbine project defended its impact on nearby land during the hearing. Representatives from both Atlantic Wind and . . . Complete story »
Anti-turbine fundraiser Thursday
The Penn Forest Chapter of SOAR, Save Our Allegheny Ridges, will be holding a community meeting and fundraising event from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Penn Forest No. 2 Firehouse in Albrightsville. “The purpose of the meeting is to inform residents of the status of applications one and two, where we stand regarding fundraising for legal fees, and to give residents an opportunity to ask questions,” said Bill Mauro. SOAR was formed in opposition to wind turbine projects . . . Complete story »
Atlantic Wind brings new sound engineer to testify on turbine noise level modeling
Atlantic Wind attorney Edward Greene called on sound modeling expert Robert O’Neal to refute the testimony of opposition witness Robert W. Rand before the Penn Forest Zoning Hearing Board. O’Neal, a managing principal at Epsilon Associates of Maynard, Massachusetts, has experience in areas of noise assessment, meteorological data collection and analysis. O’Neal testified that he did not personally do any noise modeling for the permit that is being sought for the wind farm in Penn Forest Township, but that he . . . Complete story »
Sound modeling expert testifies in Penn Forest wind turbine hearing
PENN FOREST TWP., Pa. – An expert in sound modeling testified at Tuesday evening’s Penn Forest Township zoning hearing regarding an application for 28 wind turbines in the township. Robert O’Neal, a principal at the Massachusetts-based environmental consulting firm Epsilon Associates, bolstered the sound modeling conducted by Atlantic Wind LLC, adding that he believes the turbines will be compliant with township restrictions that require them to be no louder than 45 decibels. O’Neal testified that Atlantic Wind’s sound modeling utilizes . . . Complete story »
Bethlehem Authority director will testify in turbine hearing
Stephen Repasch, executive director of the Bethlehem Authority, is being called to testify at the next Penn Forest Township hearing about the Atlantic Wind case. On Tuesday night, the board heard both sides. Bruce Anders, attorney for the objectors to the 28 proposed turbines on authority land, issued a subpoena to compel Repasch to testify. James Preston, attorney for the authority, filed a motion to quash the subpoena. Michael Greek, hearing board solicitor, overruled the motion to quash and ordered . . . Complete story »
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 »
