Shade supervisors change windmill ordinance

By PATRICK BUCHNOWSKI
The Tribune-Democrat

CAIRNBROOK August 07, 2008 10:58 pm

— Shade Township supervisors are revising an ordinance regulating wind turbines that they adopted last year.
Supervisors on Thursday authorized township Solicitor Scott Bittner to start the process of claiming that the one-time, $2,500 application fee does not cover the cost of processing, which includes engineering and legal expenses.
“It doesn’t come close,” Shade Supervisor Chairman John Topka said.
E.ON Climate & Renewables is planning to build 28 electricity generating wind turbines in Stonycreek Township, four in Allegheny Township and three in Shade Township.
Ireland-based Airtricity began planning the project last year. E.ON purchased the North American operations of Airtricity.
Shade supervisors will consider charging wind companies a fee for each turbine.
Allegheny Township is charging E.ON, a German company, $2,500 for up to five windmills and $500 for each additional turbine at the same location – property of the New Baltimore Sportsman’s Club – Supervisor Chairman Miles Costello Jr. said.
The project has been approved by the Somerset County planning commission and could begin early next year.