Pa. Wind Project Starts Spinning

[Dan Moadus]

Dennis, I think it is apparent to any reader of this board, that you can not substantiate anything you say. I, and others have pointed out the biggest drawback to wind and solar power, namely, that it is currently far more expensive than people can afford. Not only have you been unable to dispute that, you don't even try. In fairness to you though, there is no way you could. The facts are the facts. So I'm afraid that all that is left to you, if you continue to make claims that can not be backed up, is to respond with taunts and insults.

[irishbobcat]

Dan, your the dumb one sticking your head in the sand when it comes to renewables....

only because you love dirty coal and such....

wake up.......

[Dan Moadus]

Let's recap. I comment that $9,500,000 seems a little high for a windmill to power a dairy farm, and Dennis' answer is "Ho-Hum. See what I mean when I say he is intellectually bankrupt?

[irishbobcat]

Ho-Hum, Dan....whatever......

[Dan Moadus]

Let's see if I have this right, $9,500,000 for a windmill to power a diary farm. What's not right with this picture?

[irishbobcat]

Pa. Wind Project Starts Spinning

One of the two giant wind turbines overlooking the Susquehanna River south of Columbia rotated in the wind for the first time Tuesday afternoon.


The 397-foot-high Unit A turbine, located just outside the Frey Farm Landfill atop Turkey Hill in Manor Township, generated electricity for several minutes Tuesday afternoon and was spinning smoothly on Wednesday.

It was a bumpy start, however. The turbine worked fine Tuesday but was shut down when a faulty circuit board connection was found by workers trying to place the power on the grid.

The problem was fixed and electricity was placed on the grid for several minutes before shutting down for the day, according to PPL Renewable Energy, the turbines' owner.

PPL hoped it would finish testing the twin Unit B turbine and have its trio of 135-foot blades also producing green energy before the end of the day.

Thursday might be an early Christmas gift as wind gusts of up to 35 mph are forecast. Such wind speeds would have the turbines functioning at full capacity.

"It's been an exciting process and it's obviously a nice Christmas present for the whole group," said Steven Gabrielle, PPL senior business development manager.

Both turbines, which cost $9.5 million to build, are owned by PPL Renewable Energy. The Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority is a partner and owns the turbine site, a promontory just outside the authority's landfill.

Together, the turbines in southeastern Pennsylvania's first commercial wind turbine project are expected to generate enough electricity to power 700 homes a year.

All the power, however, is being purchased by the adjacent Turkey Hill Dairy.

The turbines were dedicated in a ceremony at the site on Oct. 28. Since then, the blades have been locked so employees can work on the system that takes power from the turbines to underground cables to Turkey Hill.

On Tuesday, a PPL official at a monitoring trailer near the turbines used a remote control to rotate the blades on the Unit A turbine so that they would catch the wind and begin rotating.

"It was very nice to be able to look up this morning and finally see those blades rotating," said James Warner, executive director of the waste authority.

It takes a minimum of 6 mph to turn the blades. At 11 mph, the turbines are producing power at about 50 percent of capacity. At 18 mph and above, the turbines are going full tilt.

Studies project the turbines at Turkey Hill will average about 30 percent of capacity for the year.

The turbines are believed to be the tallest structures ever built in Lancaster County. Placed atop one of the highest points in the county, the turbines have become instant landmarks visible for miles around in Lancaster and York counties.

The waste authority estimates the alternative-energy wind project will produce enough energy to offset 5,900 tons per year of greenhouse gases that would have been produced from fossil-fuel power plants.

However, not everyone is happy about the project. Some residents in York and Lancaster counties have complained that the turbines disturb the view along the river.

And some birding groups worry that the turbine blades will kill birds that use the river as a migratory corridor.

As part of a voluntary cooperative agreement with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, waste authority and PPL workers will have to conduct a daily check of the ground under and around the turbines for dead birds, beginning March 1, 2011.

The authority is even maintaining close-cropped vegetation at the turbines so that any dead birds would be visible to searchers.

Anyone interested in seeing and hearing the turbines up close will soon have that opportunity.

The Susquehanna Gateway Heritage Area approached the waste authority about running a spur of the nearby Turkey Hill Trail to an observation area near the turbines.

The side trail will be built so it connects to a new observation platform that will jut over Turkey Hill. Those willing to make the hike will be able to catch a vista looking north up the Susquehanna River, as well as study the turbines at a spot about 20 feet below the base, Warner said.

The trail, platform and interpretive panels will be completed next spring. The waste authority is footing the bill.

The authority also plans on a series of Saturday community open house tours of the turbines in the spring.