Iberdrola, a leading manufacturer of wind turbines, has recently proposed a new wind energy project in Carbon County which would utilize 150 acres of a 22,000 acre forest owned by the Bethlehem Authority. The development would provide 80 megawatts of clean energy to surrounding homes, businesses and schools in addition to providing clean energy jobs to the community. One of the last hearings regarding the zoning for the wind development proposal will be held tonight.
In advance of the hearing, Joanne Kilgour, Chair of the Sierra Club’s Pennsylvania Chapter released the following statement:
“The Sierra Club and the Pennsylvania Chapter support the development of wind energy in Carbon County. Pennsylvania has an opportunity to transition its energy production from old, outdated and dirty coal and gas, and into the future of clean energy. The Sierra Club has, and always will, work to protect sensitive environments and wilderness areas. However, in this case the environmental impact will be minimal, especially when compared to the degradation wrought by coal and natural gas extraction and combustion, which this project will help to displace.
Although no energy source is perfectly benign, studies have shown that production of wind energy results in far fewer bird and bat deaths per unit of energy generated than fossil fuels, and Iberdrola has pledged to take measures to mitigate these impacts further. While we are always concerned about habitat fragmentation, we must compare this development to the tens of thousands of miles of existing and proposed natural gas pipelines, the development of which will be reduced with investments in clean energy. And with a legal limit of 45 decibels, the wind turbines will make less noise than rain, and far less than the increasingly common natural gas compressor stations in our forests. This project is consistent with our wind siting policy, and we encourage the residents of Carbon County to do what’s right for the future of their children and Pennsylvania and support clean energy development.”
Enviroshop is maintained by dedicated NetSys Interactive Inc. owners & employees who generously contribute their time to maintenance & editing, web design, custom programming, & website hosting for Enviroshop.