On March 17, the state Department of Environmental Protection rejected for a third time Gamesa Energy's plan to install industrialized wind turbines on Shaffer Mountain. What part of "no" doesn't Gamesa - and Berwind Corp. - understand?

DEP's eight-page "Technical Deficiency Letter" was sent to Timothy Vought of Shaffer Mountain Wind LLC and lists questions that must be answered if the permit application is to be resubmitted.

I am among a lot of people wondering who is really pushing this ill-conceived and ill-thought-out project. Is it Gamesa or the landowner, Berwind?

It would seem that after three years of public outrage - not to mention the many ecological studies pertaining to plant, fish, bird and wildlife, forest, soil and water conservation; and two exceptional-value trout streams - that Gamesa would cut its losses and move on.

This does not seem to be in the cards. 

Why, Mr. Vought?

This rush to green energy in this particular instance smells of the stench of big business, greed, power and politics.

This project would destroy one of the most pristine wilderness areas in the state - an area visited by so many.

This needs to be saved.

It also would compromise, if not outright harm, Windber Area Authority's watershed and recharge area.

Berwind Corp. has devastated and destroyed so much of Somerset County; please leave something for "seed." Leave something for future generations.

As for Gamesa and Vought, if they and Berwind want a wind complex, put it on the Berwind strippings - a stone's throw away from this ill-proposed wind project.