Patton Wind Farm
More than $75,000 in grant funding from the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies' Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund has supported the Renewable Energy Center of St. Francis University's statewide wind testing. Now, as a result of those tests, 17 two-megawatt wind turbines will be developed in Elder, West Carroll and East Carroll townships by EverPower Wind Holdings, Inc.
Gwendolyn S. Andersen, director of the Center, says, "Thanks to the support of the MetEd/Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund, managed by the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, the Renewable Energy Center, Saint Francis University, was able to measure the wind resource of landowners. Landowners in promising areas received a minimum of twelve months of wind resource measurement and analysis and only had to reimburse the Center if they installed a turbine. This program completely eliminated the upfront risk to landowners, encouraging many to investigate potential projects they otherwise would not have. By overcoming the first hurdle, the Community Foundation made additional investments in clean, safe energy possible. The first of these is the Patton-Ebensburg wind project which is anticipated to install 17 turbines in Cambria County and provide significant income to the townships and landowners, improving the overall economy. The Sustainable Energy Fund of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies made this project possible directly and by leveraging funds from other sources. This allowed us to secure the measuring equipment and provide skilled analytical expertise to our community."
Work is expected to begin in the spring with power being generated by late 2012.
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 10:23 AM by Angie Berzonski
