Published: November 22, 2005 11:06 pm            

Township drafts wind-farm rules

MUNDYS CORNER — A Pittsburgh area developer of renewable energy products is in the very early stages of proposing a windmill farm in Jackson Township, the Tribune-Democrat has learned.

U.S. Wind Force LLC of Wexford approached township officials a few months ago, citing Jackson Township as one of a number of sites it is considering for future power generation.

Supervisors voted unanimously last week to hire Ebensburg lawyer Calvin J. Webb to write a wind-farm ordinance for the township.

Township Solicitor Bill Barbin said he and township officials have been presented with a map of the proposed site, which would stretch across multiple properties for about two miles on the ridge of Dishong Mountain.

“(U.S. Wind Force) is getting ready to submit a zoning application for a test tower,” Barbin said. The tower would be in place for about a year to measure wind speeds on the mountaintop, determining whether a wind farm would be feasible.

“The test tower will be far away from anyone’s home, and it won’t affect anyone,” Barbin said.

Joe Trainor Sr., a vice president of U.S. Wind Force, confirmed his company’s interest in Jackson Township.

“The project is very preliminary,” Trainor said. “We’re very interested in bringing wind development to Cambria County, and it ties very nicely into Gamesa.

Gamesa Inc. of Spain is constructing a wind-turbine manufacturing plant in Ebensburg.

“The opportunities for the state as a whole are tremendous as far as the development of wind farms and bringing industry into this part of the state.”

Trainor said his company was not prepared to disclose how many turbines are being considered or an estimated project cost. A construction timetable also was unavailable.

Township Manager Dave Hirko said the existing zoning ordinance does not address wind farms.

“The township is not against windmills, but we want to protect the residents, just as we would if a strip mine would develop,” Hirko said. “Our solicitor recommended hiring (Webb) to draft the ordinance because he has already been through this scenario in Portage Township.”

A wind farm of about 60 turbines is planned for a tract extending from Portage and Cresson townships in Cambria County to Juniata and Greenfield townships in Blair County.

Barbin said drafting an ordinance will require discussions with the homeowners and U.S. Wind Force.

“We want to draft an ordinance to protect the residents, but not unduly burden the proposed windmill developer,” Barbin explained. “There is a very fine line to be walked by the two parties.”

He added that he is comfortable with Webb stepping in.

“C.J. knows the issues,” Barbin said. “I don’t normally give up work, but in this case it made good sense.”

Supervisor Dave Bracken said he cautiously supports the idea of a wind farm in Jackson Township.

“The township would benefit greatly, especially financially,” Bracken said. “But there are a lot of things we want to go over.

“We don’t want the developer to come in and run over our people.”

According to the company’s Web site, U.S. Wind Force is an independent developer of renewable energy projects with active ventures in Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The company joined forces with Padoma Wind Power of La Jolla, Calif., in 2002 to build, finance and sell as many as 1,500 megawatts of wind energy products during the next five years in the mid-Atlantic region.



Julie Benamati can be reached at 532-5050 or at jbenamati@tribdem.com.

        

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