UPDATE: Broad Mountain Wind Balloon Test Reset for July 26

Posted on by Kurt Knaus in Events, News, Releases

Weatherly Plaza • 202 Carbon Street • Weatherly, PA 18255

Phone Toll Free: 1-866-591-5005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Kurt Knaus, 717-571-5687

Broad Mountain Wind Balloon Test Reset for July 26

Four representative balloons set to rise Friday morning, weather permitting

WEATHERLY, Carbon County (July 25, 2019) — The Broad Mountain Wind Project has rescheduled its balloon test for Friday morning, July 26. Depending on the weather and winds, the balloons are set to rise in the morning and be up sometime between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Four balloons will be elevated within the footprint of the proposed 21-turbine wind farm in Packer Township to serve as a representative example and provide additional data for site analyses to be submitted as part of the ongoing zoning hearing process. The four balloons will be spread across different parts of the wind farm, with one each on the far eastern and western ends and two others in between along the ridge.

The balloons, about 12 feet in diameter, will be tied to a cable and rise to the height of the proposed 656-foot (200-meter) tall turbines when the blade tip is at its apex. A smaller balloon or bright marker on the same cable will mark the 418-foot (127.5-meter) height of the nacelle, or hub, which sits atop the turbine tower and holds the rotor and blade assemblies.

The team from Digital Design & Imaging Service Inc., which is conducting the test, will monitor height and capture photos from communities to the north and south of the project site for about two hours until roughly 11 a.m., after which the balloons are winched in and deflated before morning winds or other unsafe conditions prevail. More information about the company and its operations is available at www.AirPhotosLIVE.com.

All of these times are weather dependent.

Broad Mountain Wind is providing alerts about the balloon test for residents through several different channels. Among them:

Broad Mountain Wind has a field office in Weatherly Plaza at 202 Carbon Street in Weatherly. More information is available toll-free at 1-866-591-5005.

###

Standard-Speaker: Windmill hearing continues today

Posted on by Kurt Knaus in News, Public Meetings, Uncategorized

By JIM DINO / Published: July 16, 2019

The ninth evening of a zoning hearing into a proposal to build almost two dozen, 50-story windmills atop Broad Mountain in Packer Twp. will be today at 6 p.m. at Weatherly Area High School.

Attorney Brian P. Stahl, representing Algonquin/Liberty Power, doing business as Broad Mountain Power, said the firm will present 10 expert witnesses during the zoning hearing.

Stahl was one of a half-dozen attorneys representing Algonquin/Liberty who questioned witnesses at the hearings. Attorney Bruce Anders, representing 194 opponents of the project, also questioned the witnesses.

To date, eight of 10 experts have testified:

■ Dennis Jimeno, a senior engineer for Comsearch, testified while the windmills will not affect cellphone reception, radio broadcasting, or cable or satellite TV reception, he said after analyzing over 200 television stations, the reception of 23 stations will be affected to homes and businesses within a 10-kilometer, or 6.2-mile radius of the windmills. The list includes the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton stations, as well as stations in eastern Pennsylvania — Allentown, Harrisburg, Lancaster/York and Philadelphia.

■ Benjamin M. Doyle, president of Capitol Air Space Group, an expert on aviation, testified one of two private airports owned by Jan Grover will be affected by the windmills, but the other, owned by Ken Sency, will not.

■ Ryan Pohle of Shoner Environmental, the company’s GIS manager and environmental scientist, testified about where the windmills would be placed. Pohle said 21 turbines would be located across the mountain ridge. while five smaller ones may also be constructed. He said they could be seen from 15,000 feet away, or about three miles.

■ William Schneider, director of engineering for Shoener Environmental, testified there are no anticipated negative impacts to surface water or groundwater features related to this project.

■ Michael Hankard, of Hankard Enviromental, Verona, Wisconsin, an expert on sound and noise, testified he used topographical data and a computer model to determine the level of noise the wind turbines would produce. The Packer Twp. ordinance limits the noise level to 50 decibels at the property line, and the loudest level the model showed was 48 decibels, Hankard said.

■ Dr. Jim Salmon, President, Zephyr North in Burlington, Ontario, testified that during icing events, which should only occur on an average of only seven days per year, that the turbines’ icing detection system should put the turbines into an ice alarm state, shut them down and put them into a standstill position.

Salmon also testified about shadow flicker, which refers to the moving shadows that an operating wind turbine may cast at certain times of the day when the turbine rotor is between the sun and a receptor’s position.

He testified there are no human health impacts caused by shadow flicker from wind turbines, and in particular by the proposed Broad Mountain wind farm.

■ Jack Coyle, President, Coyle, Lynch & Co., said he had studied what happened to property values after the construction of wind farms in two areas with similar characteristics as the Packer Twp. and Nesquehoning areas. The study and expert concluded that the siting of a wind turbine farm does not have an adverse impact on the selling prices of residences and vacant land parcels in its vicinity.

■ Ian MacRobbie, vice president, operations, Liberty Resources, testified on how wind turbines operate and how they are maintained, as well as required emergency response plans.

Contact the writer: jdino@standardspeaker.com 570-501-3585

https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/windmill-hearing-continues-today-1.2508636

RELEASE: New Study Outlines Economic Impact of Broad Mountain Wind

Posted on by Kurt Knaus in Releases, Uncategorized

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Kurt Knaus, 717-571-5687

Construction to bring $93 million to Carbon Co., creating 270 jobs with $6 million in earnings, with long-term operations generating $2.7 million locally

WEATHERLY, Carbon County (June 11, 2019) — The proposed 80-megawatt Broad Mountain Wind Project will generate $93 million in economic activity in Carbon County during construction while supporting 270 direct, indirect and induced jobs with $6 million in earnings, according to a new study by Econsult Solutions Inc., which evaluates the economic and fiscal outcomes of developments.

Beyond the one-time economic impacts from construction, direct operating expenditures at Broad Mountain upon completion will generate an estimated $3.1 million annually within Pennsylvania, with $2.7 million of that total occurring in Carbon County, the study reports. The wind farm’s operation also will yield increases in state and local tax bases.

“The economic benefits of wind energy are widely known,” said Project Manager Rob Miller. “What this study does is help us quantify more clearly exactly how the host communities and those around the project will benefit. Our goal is to ensure that communities realize the full economic benefits of wind energy, not just in the short term but over the long term as well.”

The Carbon County portion represents the largest portion of economic activity. Overall, the project will generate $128 million for Pennsylvania and support 420 annualized jobs with $16 million in earnings over the construction period because of spillover effects that stimulate business activity and support increased employment across a variety of sectors in the state.

Construction also will generate one-time income, sales and business taxes to Pennsylvania totaling approximately $1.9 million from the direct, indirect and induced economic activity.

There are sustained, lasting benefits beyond construction, according to the study.

Each year, the direct operating expenditures at Broad Mountain will generate an estimated $3.1 million in economic impact within Pennsylvania and support 10 jobs with $1 million in earnings. Of this total impact, $2.7 million will occur in Carbon County.

The increases in economic output and employment associated with the wind farm’s operations also yield increases in state and local tax bases, with $57,000 annually to the state in income, sales and 354 Davis Road, Suite 100, Oakville, ON L6J 2X1 www.algonquinpower.com business taxes. In addition to taxes generated for Pennsylvania, approximately $100,900 in property tax revenues will be paid to local jurisdictions. Each year, $82,100 in property taxes will go to Weatherly School District, $17,760 to Carbon County, and $1,040 to Packer Township.

“This is a clear example of how wind projects like this generate long-term, predictable revenue streams for municipalities and schools through tax revenues,” Miller said. “It shows how environmental protection and economic growth go hand in hand.”

The study also explored the added benefits of a community host agreement where the developer works with the municipality to provide additional compensation related to the location and operation of the wind farm within its borders. Based on the model provided, Packer Township could receive nearly $80,000 per year. In February 2019, Broad Mountain proposed a “Host Community Benefits Agreement” to Packer Township based on the model incorporated in this study. No action has been taken to date.

The Broad Mountain Wind Project features 21 turbines in Packer Township, Carbon County, and related transmission line access in Nesquehoning Borough.

Construction cost is expected to be between $145 million and $165 million, including the purchase of the turbines, construction, development fees, and other associated construction costs. Upon completion, the project will produce enough clean electricity to power about 25,000 homes a year.

The full report is available at www.broadmountainwindproject.com, under “PROJECT SUMMARY” and “INDUSTRY INFORMATION.”

###

Liberty Power Opening Office in Weatherly to Support Broad Mountain Wind Project

Posted on by Kurt Knaus in Releases, Uncategorized

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Kurt Knaus, 717-571-5687

Liberty Power Opening Office in Weatherly to Support Broad Mountain Wind Project

WEATHERLY, Carbon County (April 11, 2019) — Liberty Power is opening a field office in Weatherly to answer residents’ questions about the proposed Broad Mountain Wind Project and ensure accurate information is available to anyone interested in the development.

The proposed 80-megawatt wind project features 21 turbines in Packer Township and related transmission line access in Nesquehoning Borough. The project currently is in the early phases of permitting locally. The first zoning meeting is set for April 17.

“Liberty Power is committed to an open and active dialogue with our neighbors,” said Project Manager Rob Miller. “We want residents to have as much information as they can so they can be fully informed and understand every detail of this project. We want anyone with questions to contact us or come see us. We are committed to ensuring communities here realize the full environmental and economic benefits of this clean energy project.”

The new office is located at:
Weatherly Plaza
202 Carbon Street
Weatherly, PA 18255

Office hours also will be posted regularly at www.broadmountainwindproject.com. Residents are encouraged to call toll free at 1-866-591-5005 to schedule a visit or make an appointment.

###