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.
Wind turbine company sues Schuylkill
Clean Air Generation and Anthracite Ridge, the companies that want to build a wind turbine project in Schuylkill County, are suing the county’s Planning Commission in light of the pending curative amendment to the county zoning ordinance. On Sept. 4, the Schuylkill County Commissioners adopted a resolution declaring the county’s existing ordinance “to be substantively invalid with respect to use of property” for business ventures such as wind turbines, natural gas compression stations and facilities associated with medicinal marijuana. The . . . Complete story »
Hegins Twp. mulls curative amendment targeting wind energy
VALLEY VIEW – After two hours of testimony Thursday on a proposed curative amendment to the township’s zoning ordinance, Hegins Township supervisors voted to continue the public hearing to 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. The amendment would address wind turbines and provide for land planning, installation and construction of wind energy facilities within the township, and set conditions to protect the public health, safety and welfare of its residents. Testimony included how any potential wind turbines erected could impact operations at . . . Complete story »
Schuylkill releases draft of curative amendment
During a meeting last week, the Schuylkill County Planning Commission released a draft for the proposed “curative amendment” to the county’s zoning ordinance which would change the use of wind turbines from “allowed by right” to requiring a “special exception.” In September, the Schuylkill County Commissioners adopted a resolution declaring the existing ordinance “to be substantively invalid with respect to use of property” for business ventures such as wind turbines, natural gas compression stations and dispensing facilities for medicinal marijuana. . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine zoning provisions
Examples of such provisions regarding setbacks, noise and removal include: Any wind turbine shall be setback from the nearest existing occupied dwelling on another lot a distance not less than four times the total wind turbine height, unless a written notarized waiver is provided by the principal owner of such building. The setback shall be measured from the base of the turbine to the nearest part of such building. This provision shall apply to occupied dwellings that existed prior to . . . Complete story »
Hegins Township Planning Commission defers on curative amendment
The Hegins Township Planning Commission chose not to make a recommendation to the supervisors on the curative amendment for the township’s zoning ordinance. That amendment addresses where wind turbines are permitted within the township. The commission, including Guy Julian, Ashley Miller, Bernard Spece and Justin Edling, held a continuation of its public meeting from Jan. 9 on Thursday, but decided to send the draft forward to the supervisors without comment. Meanwhile, the township supervisors are scheduled to meet at 6 . . . Complete story »
Packer windmill farm session hears sound expert
Opponents of the proposed wind turbine farm atop Broad Mountain in Packer Township brought in an expert on noise measurement and acoustics for the Packer Township Zoning Hearing Board on Thursday. Over 200 opponents, represented by attorney Bruce Anders, funded expert Robert Rand, who traveled from Brunswick, Maine, to appear. Anders asked for Rand’s conclusions. Rand prepared a 32-page report, submitted to the board. His summary is that, with the rules of Packer Township stating the turbines’ noise “shall not . . . Complete story »
County planning commission to study curative amendment draft
POTTSVILLE – The Schuylkill County Planning Commission on Wednesday received a draft for a curative amendment to the county’s zoning ordinance. That amendment adds definitions and revises regulations regarding wind turbines, medical marijuana facilities and compressor stations. Commission members decided they would study the draft and set a date for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, to meet with the zoning and land use consultant hired by the county who drafted the amendment, Charlie Schmehl, of Bethlehem. Members offered no comment Wednesday . . . Complete story »
Schuylkill preparing turbine rules
POTTSVILLE – Schuylkill County is progressing in preparing new regulations for installing wind turbines, but are not yet ready to unveil the specifics that will comprise the curative amendment to the zoning ordinance, officials said Wednesday. “Once it’s completed, we have to send it to the planning commission,” Assistant County Solicitor Glenn Roth said after Wednesday’s commissioners meeting, during which an activist urged them to complete the work without delay. Virginia L. Morton, Porter Twp., said county officials need to make . . . Complete story »
Hegins Twp. continues hearing on curative amendment for wind farm
VALLEY VIEW – The Hegins Township Planning Commission on Thursday did not make a decision, but instead, continued its public hearing on a curative amendment to the township zoning ordinance. Members Guy Julian, Ashley Miller and Bernard Spece said the hearing would resume at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at the Hegins Area Ambulance Association building, 352 Gap St., in Valley View. The board heard about an hour and 40 minutes worth of comments on the curative amendment. Private citizens asked . . . Complete story »
Hasty shift to renewable energy will lead to grid collapse
In his Dec. 27 letter (“Federal fossil-fuel subsidies hurt renewables, drive up our electric bills”) the Sierra Club’s Jeff Tittel accuses the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission of making a “shameful giveaway” to oil, coal and gas interests to the detriment of all others. FERC is obligated to assure primarily a reliable electric power grid. Low costs are important, but “cheap” electricity becomes extremely costly when the grid blacks out. And grid collapse is assured under the “100% renewables by 2035” . . . Complete story »
