Published: February 07, 2009 11:54 pm      

Funds sought for wind center

PORTAGE — Michael Barton is seeking some support for his vision of a wind energy education center atop the Allegheny Ridge.

After Portage Water Authority tentatively agreed the facility could be built on its property off Route 164, Barton has founded a nonprofit organization and is ready to line up some financial backing.

The owner of Michael Barton Forestry Consulting in Sidman took his message to Penn State this week.

Barton outlined plans for a visitor center and educational clearinghouse this week at the university’s Energy and the Environment Thematic Initiative Team’s funding outreach task force.

“I think the presentation was very, very well received,” Barton said.

Discussion included the possibility of a partnership that would include Barton’s education in Penn State’s programs.

The newly-incorporated Appalachian Ridge Wind Energy Education Center nonprofit organization could capitalize on growing public interest to encourage tourism while improving future wind farm development and operation, Barton said.

“We are hoping to work toward both entities: The public and the wind energy industry,” Barton said.

The first step is to get some financial support, with universities and wind-energy companies the most-likely backers.

Universities would benefit from expanded research opportunities, while wind companies can improve their public relations and develop better practices to protect the environment.

Barton is consultant for most of the landowners leasing property on the Allegheny Ridge Wind Farm developed by Gamesa Energy USA. Through his research, Barton says he has learned different developers use vastly different approaches to clearing land and building wind turbines.

Some clear construction areas as large as five acres for each turbine and put in roads more than 100 feet wide to assemble the turbines on the ground. Others have found ways assemble the turbines after the towers are up, reducing the construction area and creating less impact on the environment.

“We can save the developer a great amount of money,” Barton said. “It’s a way to improve what they are doing and protect the environment.”