Turbine Proposal Gone With the Wind

(Lehighton, Carbon County) - A wind farm proposal in Carbon County is causing some turbulence. Community members have been fighting against this proposal for months and today one community can rest easier knowing that multiple wind turbines will not be popping up in their area.

The Lehighton Water Authority has rejected an offer from a renewable energy company to develop on their land.  Three of those 40 turbines are gone with the wind.  The water authority voted to reject an offer from Iberdrola Renewables to lease the land owned by the authority in Penn Forest Township. 

"We have a policy that we're not going to allow development on water authority property and therefore we voted against it," Co-Chairman of Lehighton Water Authority, Lamont Ebbert said.

In a statement to Eyewitness News, Iberdrola Renewables said:

While a draft layout of the Penn Forest Wind Farm did envision the possibility of three wind turbines on the Lehighton Water Authority property, we’ll continue to move forward with the lengthy and rigorous permitting process for the project. We look forward to continuing the conversation about the benefits of clean, affordable, homegrown energy that can deliver long-term local economic benefits.

Neighbors are worried about the environment, noise, property values, and what would happen to their thriving tourism industry, so the fight isn't over yet in neighboring communities.

The other 37 turbines are proposed for Bethlehem Watershed Property in Penn Forest Township.  No decision has been made of whether or not that township will move forward with the proposal.