USA - Gamesa is planning region’s largest wind farm

Wind-turbine builder Gamesa Inc. – which is constructing a factory outside Ebensburg – is preparing a state permit seeking to build what would be the area’s largest windmill farm, The Tribune-Democrat has learned. Spain-based Gamesa’s blueprint along the Blair-Cambria county line includes about 60 wind turbines – three times the region’s largest, a string of 20 in Meyersdale. The company is remaining close-mouthed about specifics of the turbines expected to stretch from Portage to the Cresson area. Brian Lammers, Gamesa’s director of development, said only that the project is moving forward. “Everything looks positive for the project to be built in 2006,” he said. Exact locations for the siting of the windmills are still unknown.

Allegheny Ridge Wind Farm LLC would be the name, according to information provided to the Portage Township supervisors by a consultant working for wind-energy developer Gamesa. Shoener Environmental Consulting Services of Moscow, Pa., shows the turbines could be located near Blue Knob, including the Cambria County townships of Cresson, Portage and Washington. In Blair, Juniata and Greenfield townships could be involved. Gamesa anticipates that a total of 200-plus acres will be affected by construction.

Meanwhile, Gamesa has begun hiring employees for Fiberblade, the company’s first American manufacturing facility, a blade plant being built in Cambria Township. Portage-area officials were told in April that Gamesa was considering wind power on land belonging to Portage Area Municipal Water Authority, Martindale Lumber Co. and Helsel Lumber Co. Interest in developing wind energy is increasing in the region as the state and federal governments push for alternative energy sources. The Allegheny Ridge has an elevation higher than 2,600 feet and provides miles of relatively undeveloped land through eastern Cambria County.