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Wind turbine powers house in North Strabane

Post-Gazette (PA)
Thursday, February 25, 2010
www.post-gazette.com

It took more than a year to get approval to install a wind turbine, it took a couple of months for it to be installed, and the savings on the utility bill are yet to be realized. But Frank Weber said he's still glad he did it.

The 60-foot pole stands 100 feet away from his castle-like home in North Strabane. The turbine is south of the home's turret, which is 20 feet shorter. The property on which the turbine sits is elevated 1,400 feet.

Mr. Weber said he moved to the area from South Park a few years ago because he loves nature. He estimates about 70 percent of his 6.5-acre property is wooded. His love of nature is part of what inspired him to seek out an alternative energy source for his 3,900-square-foot home.

After seeing a wind farm in Somerset, he began reading about wind energy, discussing it online and researching manufacturers. He decided to buy a Skystream turbine from Sustainable Developers Inc., of Pittsburgh, which also helped him install the turbine.

The environment is important to him, but so is saving money. The turbine went on the grid a week before Christmas. He received an estimated bill for January from Allegheny Power, but until his bill is settled, he doesn't know how much he's saved. The turbine is expected to reduce his bill by 30 percent to 50 percent.

"This is the safest and cleanest way to produce electricity, and it's free -- that's what I like about it," Mr. Weber said. "Well, the wind is free. You know what I mean."

The turbine cost about $15,000. He received a federal tax incentive in 2009 and a $1,000 tax credit from the state.

Mr. Weber first approached township supervisors about erecting a wind turbine in July 2008. It took more than a year for the township to develop and approve a new ordinance governing small, noncommercial "wind energy conversion systems."

A system is allowed as an accessory and conditional use in all zoning districts, but only one is allowed per lot. The system can be a maximum of 100 feet tall and can't exceed a 50-kilowatt rating. The setbacks from all property lines, utility lines and structures shall be 1.5 times the total height of the tower or pole plus the rotor radius.

North Strabane isn't the only municipality to enact an ordinance last year. South Strabane also enacted a zoning provision in its ordinances.

"I have had inquiries about it, but no applications," South Strabane Manager John Stickle said.

North Strabane approved Mr. Weber's application in October. North Strabane assistant manager Paulette Moyar said no one else has applied yet, probably due to the weather. In August, she said trying to regulate these systems was all "brand new."

"It took a long time," Mr. Weber said.

Despite the long, drawn-out process, Mr. Weber said he was a "pioneer of the area" because he "took initiative."

He said he hadn't received any complaints and he'd had "all good, positive feedback."