Three Pennsylvania men have filed a federal lawsuit against a Spanish wind turbine manufacturer, saying that they were illegally replaced by younger workers. The three also claim the company gave Spanish workers preferential treatment. ...Their federal lawsuit filed in Johnstown says the men were all replaced by younger employees and that two of the three replacements were also Spaniards.

...the evaluation will trace the root of the water to its origin, beginning at the bottom of the drainage and then walk up the stream valley taking length and depth measurements of the water sources. All of the measurements will have GPS coordinates, and the key product will be map based. "We'll take that information and be able to craft plans to protect the water," said Casselberry. "We're trying to increase protection." Ultimately, the complete two-phase evaluation would map out the watershed and show where natural gas drilling and wind turbine construction could be done, or it will show that one or the other, or both, can't be done.

The wind turbine in Pine erected two months ago to help power the township's new community center has not had any major problems, director of land development Larry Kurpakus said, but it may be too early to definitively call the turbine project a success. The turbine cannot turn without winds of 10 mph or stronger, and it has only operated sporadically this summer.

A wind-turbine company that has been credited with bringing green jobs to Pennsylvania and restoring an abandoned Bucks County steel plant has been fined $639,161 by the state Department of Environmental Protection for problems that included emissions violations and "substantial" record-keeping lapses. The agency announced yesterday, before a holiday weekend, that Gamesa USA had paid the fine. ... one of the biggest issues was with emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the paints, solvents and adhesives used to make the giant blades and other components of the turbines.

Spanish wind turbine company Gamesa Inc. announced Friday that it is laying off 28 workers in its Falls tower production facility as it winds down its tower business, which will be handled by subcontractors in the future. Since it opened in 2006, Gamesa has produced towers, blades and turbines at three plants in the Keystone Industrial Port Complex in Falls. But it is negotiating with five potential subcontractors interested in taking over the tower production at the KIPC.

After reviewing thousands of pages of testimony and comments from numerous public hearings, Judges Mark A. Hoyer and Michael A. Nemec in a 364-page document said Allegheny Energy, through its transmission line subsidiary TrAILCo had "failed to carry the burden of truth" for the entire 240-mile project. "Based on our review of the entire record, we have concluded that little or no need for reinforcement in the Prexy service area presently exists," the judges wrote.

The push for alternative energy sources continues in Clearfield County. Although plans are only in the beginning stages, Iberdrola Renewables is looking to build a wind farm between the north Rockton and Luthersburg areas. Craig Poff, senior project developer, and Paul Copleman, communications manager for Iberdrola Renewables' King of Prussia offices, said the company, which originated in Spain, is best known for its wind energy.

Proposed development of a utility-scale wind turbine at Blue Mountain Ski Area in Carbon County is shaping up as a classic battle between economics and the environment. ...Dan Kunkle, executive director of the 750-acre Lehigh Gap Nature Center near Slatington, said a wind turbine at Blue Mountain would pose a significant threat to hundreds of thousands of raptors and songbirds that follow the 250-mile Kittatinny Ridge through Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York on their annual migrations. ...Kunkle's concerns were echoed by Donald S. Heintzelman of Zionsville, a nationally renowned ornithologist

Pennsylvania's mountain ridges are on track to teem with industrial wind turbines -- enough that, if placed on the 359-mile Pennsylvania Turnpike, they would stretch seven per mile. The turbines will require clearing a combined 10,000 acres of mountaintops. Each turbine would reach heights that rival Pittsburgh's skyscrapers. They could make their owners more than $300 million in federal subsidies and power more than 1 million homes. But they wouldn't remove a single coal-fired power plant from service.

The borough has applied for two Department of Environmental Protection grants, each for $168,000, to fund a proposed $173,000 windmill and solar electric system. The borough would pay $5,000 toward the overall cost. Borough Manager Dave Montz said if one or both grants are awarded, the total amount will not exceed $168,000. Council President Mark Sampogna said, however, he is unsure if council will approve the project, even if funding is secured. The height of proposed installation, 100-feet to 120-feet, could have a negative impact on the appearance of the park, he said.

The Department of Environmental Protection has issued two permits to AES Armenia Mountain Wind LLC for the construction of 124 wind turbines in Bradford and Tioga counties. "This is a landmark occasion for the future of clean, renewable energy in rural north central Pennsylvania," said DEP Northcentral Regional Director Robert Yowell. "When complete, this will be the largest wind energy facility in Pennsylvania, producing about 150-megawatts of electricity ...For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us

Logan Township Supervisors met with Gamesa officials to talk about regulations on wind turbines. Reps from Gamesa want to build a wind farm in Logan Township. They haven't decided where to put it, but one suggestion is along the Chestnut Flats area near Horseshoe Curve. At least one person who lives nearby says the wind turbines are not welcome.

In an effort to satisfy the concerns of neighbors and officials affected by a wind turbine project in Georges and Springhill townships, the company has offered concessions in the form of removing some turbines from its list and changing the location of other proposed windmills. PPM Atlantic Renewable Energy Corp. also has drafted an agreement that would establish a scholarship fund for local students.

Gamesa Project Developer Josh Framel has been involved with Gamesa's proposal to the borough since its inception. Framel once again made his trek from Gamesa's Philadelphia location to Tyrone Monday night to ask council to vote on the Ice Mountain turbine site. Once again, Framel was turned down by council. Mayor Jim Kilmartin and borough solicitor Larry Clapper informed him that council wants to have all of its members present when voting on the wind farm issue. The council seats will not be full until the September 8 meeting.

County Council on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution calling on the utility to hold a hearing in one of the county townships that would be affected by the possible route. Lehigh, Moore, Bushkill, Plainfield, Washington and Lower Mount Bethel townships are along the route. ...''We welcome all input and we are still taking public comment. Any resolution will be considered carefully by us,'' Wirth said, adding PPL has heard ''loud and clear'' the opposition to Route C in Northampton County. ''We understand that and are taking that into account before making a decision,'' he said.

Airtricty Stonycreek Wind Farm is looking to build four electricity-generating wind turbines in Allegheny Township -- part of a broader project that includes 28 wind turbines in Stonycreek Township and three in Shade Township. The project since has been taken over by E.ON Climate & Renewable, a German energy company. E.ON recently purchased the North American operations of Airtricty, which is based in Ireland. The three townships in Somerset County were chosen for the project, set for next year, for several reasons. "Wind, transmission and land," said Douglas Colbeck, E.ON's vice president of Northeast development.

Residents will get their chance to speak up about a proposed power line route through Springfield at three public hearings this month hosted by the Public Utility Commission. The supervisors have taken a stand against PPL's plans for the "cross-country route" and substation. They say the route will negatively affect environmentally sensitive areas and should be moved closer to Route 309 or the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority railroad corridor. The proposed line crosses woodlands, wetlands, flood plains and agricultural land through rural parts of Springfield and Richland.

Supervisors on Tuesday approved an agreement that could provide $40,000 each year for a wind farm BP Alternative Energy wants to build in the township. Under the "voluntary host community agreement," Noxen will receive a one-time upfront payment of $50,000 payable within 30 days of the installation of the first wind turbine.

A possible wind farm atop Ice Mountain in Blair County has caused a flurry of controversy, with residents even signing petitions and casting ballots in favor or against it. However, it looks like all that buzz might not even matter. Officials said some companies have found natural gas on Ice Mountain in Snyder Township, just outside of Tyrone. Although there's nothing set in stone, it could be an alternative to those windmills.

Wind turbines proposed for a portion of the East Conneaut Industrial Park would occupy land that now contains wetlands, not property earmarked for commercial growth, interim City Manager Edward Somppi said Thursday. "We wouldn't involve the good, developable land," Somppi said. City officials continue to talk with representatives of SRG Sites Associates of Willoughby, which wants to buy at least 159 acres of the 286-acre park and market it to a company that would install wind turbine generators.