Articles filed under General from Pennsylvania
Another wind farm could be popping up in our area. An energy company is considering putting up windmills in Wyoming County. A meeting is scheduled for Tuesday night about it and a lot of people have a lot of questions. BP Alternative Energy is considering putting a wind farm in the Noxen area. That means the ridge tops there could look like the ridge tops just outside of Wilkes-Barre.
Noxen eyed for wind park
A major energy company is eyeing the mountains surrounding Noxen Township, Wyoming County, as a potential location for its next wind turbine facility. BP Alternative Energy is in discussions with Tunkhannock-based Deer Park Lumber. According to Deer Park manager Jeff Nichols, the discussions are in the preliminary stages and South Mountain is one of the areas around Noxen being considered.
Wind farm owner wants to give township $18G
Locust Ridge Wind Farm owner Joe Green, of Shenandoah, would like the Mahanoy Township Board of Supervisors to give him a tax break on his wind energy enterprise. He would even be willing to give the township a share of his profits in exchange for a break in taxes. Tax law, however, prohibits local government from agreeing not to tax somebody. That's the legislature's job, according to township Solicitor Victoria Edwards.
Amendment could allow wind farms in resource protection zones
Electricity-generating wind farms could soon be coming to northern Lycoming County if an amendment to the county's zoning ordinance is approved. A draft of the proposed amendment was presented Thursday to the county Planning Commission. Commission Executive Director Jerry S. Walls said the amendment was the result of a need to "clarify" the existing ordinance which currently allows wind farms in agricultural and countryside zones and in so-called resource protection zones if the county zoning hearing board approves a special exception permit.
Supervisors to hold public wind forums
QUEMAHONING TOWNSHIP - Supervisors are planning a public meeting in order to find out whether residents are in favor of an ordinance regulate wind turbines. Supervisors agreed with solicitor Steve Miller's assessment that enacting an ordinance would be a costly step for the township when they aren't even sure if the public feels they're necessary.
EUI appeals wind turbine project decision to state Supreme Court
Energy Unlimited Inc., which lost its last two court decisions regarding a proposed 34-turbine wind farm project in Bear Creek Township, appealed the case to the state Supreme Court on Monday, hoping the higher court will reverse a February Commonwealth Court decision that sided with township supervisors' rejection of the project.
Penelec, Gamesa vote near; Wind farms would be linked to electric transmission grid
The keepers of the regional power supply may vote next month on Penelec proposals to link area wind farms into the electric transmission grid. About $13 million in projects are planned, mostly in Blair, Cambria and Somerset counties, as wind farms associated with Gamesa Energy USA sprout up. A committee of PJM Interconnection received an update last week on the utility's projects in Blair, Cambria and Somerset counties.
Gamesa pinpoints turbine-blade flaw
Gamesa Inc. on Friday identified a defect in an applicator used to apply a thin Fiberglas layer to wind-turbine blades as the cause of blade splintering and breakage. The blades are manufactured at Gamesa's Ebensburg-area factory.
Authority waiting for final wind farm plan
WINDBER - The area authority is still in a position to stop a hotly-contested wind farm provided a final expert review of the project plans determines that it will detrimentally affect the watershed, officials said.
Windmill ordinance tabled
NOXEN TWP. - The supervisors tabled a proposed ordinance regulating windmills on May 1 for the second time. The township will hold a special work session Tuesday, May 22 at 6 p.m. at the old Noxen school to hear statements from both sides. "We want to take the most responsible action in the long-term interests of the township," said chairman Tom Nalbone Jr.
Citizens’ group opposing wind farms formed in Tioga County
A new citizen's group has formed in Tioga County with the aim of keeping wind farms out of the rural north central Pennsylvania county. The group is represented by Frank Piccolella, who lives just over the border in Lycoming County and owns a florist shop with his wife Judi here. "Three weeks ago, we had six people. Now, it's up to 27 and gaining momentum rapidly," he told the commissioners during their Tuesday meeting.
Gamesa proposes turbines in Tyrone
TYRONE - Gamesa Energy USA wants to build about a dozen wind turbines on Tyrone Borough's Ice Mountain watershed as part of a larger wind farm that would stretch into Centre County. "We think it has really good potential for a wind farm," Gamesa representative Josh Framel told Borough Council at its Monday meeting. "We'd like to start discussing the lease agreement with the borough."
Bad gluing blamed for mishaps at wind farm
It all came down to glue. And how it was misapplied by workers. Spanish wind-energy company Gamesa said "insufficient and irregular distribution of glue" caused large pieces to break off seven turbine blades at the Allegheny Ridge Wind Farm near Lilly, Cambria County. No one was injured during the mishap in mid-March, but pieces of the blades flew more than 500 feet, according to residents.
Windber area wind turbines
We have a fiduciary duty to our customers and our local governing bodies who also went on record as opposing Wind turbine development in the watershed. We cannot take any chance what so ever that would endanger the future water supply, which has always been of exceptional quality.
Group cautious on wind turbines
CENTRAL CITY - A local environmental organization is calling for an independent study of surface and ground water on land where Gamesa Energy USA is proposing to erect wind turbines. In a three-page position paper, the Mountain Laurel Chapter of Trout Unlimited said the proposed Shaffer Mountain project could adversely impact the Piney Creek watershed and wants a water study done.
Lawmakers fight electric line expansions in NY, PA, and VA
From New York to Virginia, residents face the prospect of new high-voltage line construction after an announcement last week by the Department of Energy. Now, East Coast lawmakers are banding together in a bid to short-circuit the federal decision making it easier for power companies to build major power lines like the New York Regional Interconnect.
Officials examine impact of proposed wind farm
Wind energy is one of Pennsylvania's fastest-growing industries and now Lancaster County has its first wind farm under consideration - a $24 million project at the county landfill in Manor Township. Are there any concerns? Bird collisions, aesthetics and sound concerns have been issues with some wind turbine farms across the country.
Area township passes wind turbine ordinance
After a vote of 2-1, supervisors have approved their first ever wind turbine ordinance.
Vote likely to drop wind-turbine height limit
Upper Paxton Twp. supervisors likely will give final approval next week to a revised wind-energy ordinance, according to board Chairman Thomas Shaffer. No changes have been made to the ordinance since it was discussed at a public meeting April 11, Shaffer said. The revised ordinance would remove height limitation on wind turbines, specify setback distances from homes and limit noise and shadow flicker, among other things. Gamesa, a Spanish wind-energy company, has proposed building 25 wind turbines atop Mahantango Mountain in the township. It has indicated it has no disagreements with the proposed revisions. The supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. May 9 at the township building near Millersburg.
Pa. Group Guides NC CO2 Panel
RALEIGH - A nonprofit environmental advocacy group, which staunchly believes global warming must be reduced through reductions in human-caused carbon dioxide emissions, controls another nonprofit organization that advises a climate action panel started by the N.C. Division of Air Quality. The DAQ-created group, in turn, makes recommendations on carbon-dioxide reductions to the Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change. The advisory organization, the Center for Climate Strategies, is Pennsylvania-based and helped establish the study commission through a proposal to DAQ. But there is question whether the study panel, called the Climate Action Plan Advisory Group (CAPAG), is authorized under N.C. law.