News

May 10, 2008

Turbines to be ready by 2009

Project in Wyoming County will cost about $250 million and employ up to 250 people during construction.

TUNKHANNOCK – Now that Noxen Township’s wind ordinance has been approved, BP Alternative Energy is publicly pushing for a wind park in Wyoming County.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a go by any means, but we’re feeling good about it,” BP business developer Kevin Davis said.

The public was invited to see the company’s plans at an open house on Thursday. Experts were on hand to answer questions.

The company plans to install up to 89 turbines in a mountainous area between Noxen, Forkston and Eaton townships. It’s scheduled to be online by the end of 2009 and will likely sell its power to a utility in a 20-year, fixed-price contract, Davis said.

“Since our fuel is free, we can be predictable,” which is a benefit for utilities dealing with spiking fuel prices, he said

The turbines will have a 150-megawatt capacity, enough to supply 27,000 homes, but will likely operate on average at about 30 percent of that, or 50 megawatts, according to Karl Pierce of BP.

“That’s one of the downsides of renewable energy. It comes when it comes,” he said.

The project will cost about $250 million, Davis said, and employ up to 250 people during construction. Over its 20-year lifespan, it’s estimated to create $5.5 million in tax revenue and employ between five and 10 people.

An issue that remains to be decided is siting a 115-kilovolt transmission line that will run up to 10 miles from the park to a substation in Mehoopany. Several alternative routes are proposed.

About a third of the landowners who are potentially affected are willing to approve the rights of way, transmission engineer Joe Drouin said. Another third appear likely to sign, he said, but work remains to lure the final third.

The next step is to finish environmental studies and apply for various permits. If endangered species are found, the company will “site to avoid” them, Davis said.

“There’s really little that could make it (the project) come to a screeching halt,” said Jessica Kerns, a wildlife biologist with Western EcoSystems Technology Inc. “There might be some things that make you jump through more hoops than you might want to.”

Davis acknowledged that turbines can kill birds and bats, but said new wind park designs introduced for economic reasons have reduced the risk by reducing turbine speeds, building towers without open areas that attract nesting birds and spacing turbines further apart.

Local reaction was mixed, but mostly positive. “It’s a great idea. I think it’s going to help with the energy situation we’re having currently,” Jenningsville resident Grant House said. “Everybody’s got that ‘not in my back yard’ kind of opinion, but you’ve gotta put them somewhere.”

Rory Sweeney, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 970-7418.

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