Consultant to speak
Wind turbine workshop Tuesday

A consultant on land use planning and community education will share his expertise with members of the Potter County Planning Commission (PCPC) on Tuesday as planners continue to sort their options in regulating wind turbine development.

William C. Shuffstall (inset), a director of economic and community development with the Penn State Cooperative Extension Service, will be the guest speaker during a workshop to be held at 6 pm in the Potter County Education Council office on North Main Street, Coudersport. The session is open to the public.

PCPC members hope to become better educated on the potential impact of commercial wind turbine development before approving regulations. At recent meetings, PCPC has been pressured by citizens on both sides of the turbine issue. Regulations will eventually be recommended as amendments to the Potter County Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance to Commissioners Doug Morley,

Paul Heimel and Susan Kefover.

Some citizens are pressuring county officials to act quickly, as wind energy companies move closer to filing applications with state and local governmental agencies.

One firm, international energy giant AES Corporation, has announced preliminary plans to build upwards of 80 turbines on high-altitude farmland near Ulysses. Those towers would extend an estimated 415 feet to the top of the turbine blade.

Separate wind turbines are being targeted by other companies for property south of Coudersport, in the Dutch Hill/ Inez area, and north of Coudersport in the Hebron/Crandall Hill area.