facts, analysis, exposure of wind energy's real impacts Windaction http://www.windaction.org/articles/c122+99?theme=atom Xarayar 2006-06-12T02:16:27Z .36847 2012-12-23T13:39:53Z 2012-12-23T13:39:53Z

Zoning board Chairman Larry Umholtz and members Jim Artz and John Johns voted Dec. 12 for the denial, following a hearing that lasted a little more than an hour and included testimony from citizens and BP representatives. About 40 people, including Hegins Township Zoning Officer Allan Swab, attended the hearing held in the Hegins Area Ambulance Association building on Gap Street.

.29853 2010-11-10T14:38:21Z 2010-11-10T14:38:21Z

The board added a provision to the windmill ordinance stating personal property windmills cannot cause loss of a signal, such as from a satellite or dish TV or a cell phone, to a neighboring property. As a result of the change, the supervisors will have to re-advertise the ordinance to be adopted at its Dec. 20 meeting.

.29457 2010-10-12T19:16:25Z 2010-10-12T19:16:25Z

Committee Chairwoman Susan Madian said she - and several other council members - have heard concerns and complaints from residents since council approved the ordinance three weeks ago. None of those residents had voiced their concerns during the ordinance approval process.

.28742 2010-08-12T12:57:50Z 2010-08-12T12:57:50Z

In written testimony to the Army Corps, Thomas Kunz, a biology professor at Boston University with a long list of studies and publications qualifying him as an expert on bats and their reproduction, said there is a high level of risk to the Indiana bat population at the proposed project site. The location is routinely and heavily used as a roosting and foraging location, as well as a potential bat migration path, Kunz said.

.28608 2010-08-04T14:59:13Z 2010-08-04T14:59:13Z

While the new law bans wood-fired burnersand essentially relegates wind turbines to the less dense R-1 zoning district, it eases traditional setback requirements for residents and businesses contemplating systems like solar panels, said Komelasky. Without the ordinance, the turbines could have cropped up in high density neighborhoods and become a source of problems. And Komelasky said they can be "noisy and obtrusive."

.28445 2010-07-23T14:51:48Z 2010-07-23T14:51:48Z

Fayette County needs to move faster to update zoning for renewable energy and Marcellus shale gas wells, according to some residents who addressed commissioners during a public meeting on Thursday.

.28041 2010-07-02T12:40:25Z 2010-07-02T12:40:25Z

The chairman of the Fayette Zoning Hearing Board said members of the board "totally ignored" political pressure and instead made its decision regarding a controversial wind farm "in favor of being honest and acting in a professional manner."

.27780 2010-06-14T11:47:19Z 2010-06-14T11:47:19Z

In a unanimous vote June 7, the Hegins Township supervisors adopted an ordinance they said had as good of a defense as the township could provide regarding a wind farm proposed by BP Wind Energy.

.27450 2010-05-22T10:49:44Z 2010-05-22T10:49:44Z

The Mahanoy Township supervisors on Thursday approved two ordinances regarding the creation of wind and solar farms within the township. The ordinances state that plans for wind turbines or solar panels must be reviewed by the township planning commission before they can be permitted in the township.

.25971 2010-03-06T07:33:10Z 2010-03-06T07:33:10Z

The Portage Township supervisors are attempting to streamline the permitting process and reduce the local costs of having an on-lot residential or small-business wind turbine. A revamped ordinance based on an original statute adopted in 2005 will be advertised next week with plans for adoption in April, Supervisor Kenneth Trimbath said.

.25372 2010-01-30T02:55:07Z 2010-01-30T02:55:07Z

The Brady Township Supervisors moved one step closer to adopting an ordinance that will regulate the construction of commercial wind turbines in the township. According to supervisors Chairman Darryl Beatty, the purpose of the special meeting was to discuss and amend the ordinance that was presented at an earlier special meeting.

.24829 2009-12-28T13:40:08Z 2009-12-28T13:40:08Z

Technology exists to generate electricity through wind turbines and solar panels. But Erie's zoning code hasn't caught up -- yet. Erie City Council will hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to the code that would allow for the construction and installation of "urban solar farms," or large-scale, commercial energy-generation facilities, within the city limits.

.24527 2009-12-09T20:30:21Z 2009-12-09T20:30:21Z

The Brady Township supervisors moved one step closer to enacting an ordinance regulating the construction of wind turbines by presenting a draft copy of that ordinance at the December meeting. They limited questions and discussion of that ordinance to one-half hour at that meeting but said that there will be a public meeting held at the Community Building Tuesday.

.24271 2009-11-26T13:58:25Z 2009-11-26T13:58:25Z

The answer as to whether a combination wind turbine and cellular tower opposed by neighboring property owners is allowed to be built on a Franconia property is still blowing in the wind. But the township now has rules for any future plans to build windmills. The new rules were approved by the Franconia supervisors at their recent meeting.

.23782 2009-10-23T13:28:42Z 2009-10-23T13:28:42Z

Fayette County commissioners took no action following a hearing to make revisions to an ordinance that permits commercial and residential windmills and wind turbines as a permitted use, rather than by special exception, in areas zoned agricultural, light industrial or heavy industrial. Commissioners had approved the ordinance in June, but attorney Richard Bower, representing Iberdrola Renewables of Portland, Ore., said the ordinance required some minor revisions.

.23762 2009-10-21T14:14:57Z 2009-10-21T14:14:57Z

As has been the case for more than six months, the issue involving wind turbines again dominated the Butler Township supervisors meeting Tuesday evening. The township municipal building was again filled to standing-room only with township residents and others who oppose the proposed project planned by Broad Mountain Development Co. LLC, a Rich family company. Broad Mountain has a proposed locating 27 wind turbines in the Fountain Springs area, a plan strongly opposed by local residents.

.23713 2009-10-20T19:39:24Z 2009-10-20T19:39:24Z

Clearfield County Planning Commission listened to a pair of concerned citizens at its meeting last night who shared information about a proposed wind energy project. Brady Township resident Gary Swope shared information about the 43-turbine project projected for Brady, Bloom and Penn townships by Iberdrola Renewables. Swope reported the project area would contain industrial-sized wind turbines measuring 300 feet across its blades and 400 feet from the ground to its highest point.

.23361 2009-09-28T03:49:00Z 2009-09-28T03:49:00Z

If Monaca resident Chuck Thomas had been able to get his windmill up and running over the weekend, he would have been able to take advantage of Monday's stiff breezes. ..."One problem is that there is no provision for small wind turbines in his zone," Leone said Monday. "He has to get a variance for that, and his hearing isn't scheduled until Oct. 19."

.23126 2009-09-15T21:59:42Z 2009-09-15T21:59:42Z

For much of this year, the West Penn Township Board of Supervisors has been considering an ordinance regulating the use of wind turbines. The ordinance has been reviewed by the planning commission and revised after being under public scrutiny. When it came time for the supervisors to pull the trigger and vote on the proposed regulations, an oversight by the township's solicitor has the board delaying that vote again, at least for another month.

.22928 2009-09-01T02:40:23Z 2009-09-01T02:40:23Z

The Brady Township Supervisors held a workshop conference call in relation to developing a wind turbine ordinance. The conversation was with Thomas Tuffey, the director of PennFuture's Center for Energy, Enterprise and the Environment covered many areas of interest for the supervisors, who are currently writing an ordinance that will place regulations on the wind turbines currently being proposed by Iberdrola, U.S.A. in the township.