County to vote on zoning for turbines

Kevin Spradlin
Cumberland Times-News

CUMBERLAND — Jamie Walsh said Allegany County officials are trying to impose strict standards on small industrial wind turbine projects — regulations that are even more limiting than larger projects that require in-depth review by a number of state agencies.

Staff on Wednesday presented during a special work session a handful of changes in an attempt to address concerns conveyed by the commissioners at last week’s public meeting. And the consensus appeared to be the commissioners favored imposing some form of the amendments to the county zoning code. The meeting was open to the public but only the commissioners and county staff were permitted to speak.

“Yeah, it seems like the train is headed that way,” said Walsh, a local attorney representing US WindForce, the company that has a proposed 25-turbine project atop Dan’s Mountain.

In a recent letter to the editor, Walsh said the zoning amendments as originally presented would be the project’s undoing. On Wednesday, Walsh said the proposed modifications didn’t appear to be much better.

The proposed modifications — to be voted on at today’s public meeting at 11 a.m. — include applicants being permitted to request a variance of minimum separation distances and setbacks. The proposals released Wednesday also would measure the height of a turbine from its base to the top of the nacelle — the cover housing of the turbine’s engine — as opposed to the highest point of the blade at its greatest extension.

County Planning Coordinator Phil Hager said last week’s tour of wind turbines in Somerset County, Pa., was enlightening but also brought to light key issues. One planning staff member heard a high-pitched whine emitted from the machines. Commissioner Jim Stakem said he didn’t hear it.

Hager said a past farming family had problems with flicker — the casting of shadows by the turbine blades as they rotate. The family currently living there has reported no issues of it, Hager said.

The problems — and their potential solutions, he said — “depends on who you talk to.”