Windmills are sweeping thousands of dollars into McIntyre Township over the next 25 years.
Each year over that time Duke Energy Renewables will be sending the township $36,000.
It's all part of a deal the township signed with the North Carolina-based energy company for locating windmills in the municipality, according to company spokeswoman Tammie McGee.
Article Photos
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette
Above, several wind turbines on Laurel Ridge between Liberty and Ralston.
Such agreements are not unusual between the company and communities that put up windmill projects.
"It just depends. Sometimes we make payment in lieu of taxes. Every wind project is unique. They are not all done the same way," she said.
The 30 windmills are all in place, many of them visible along Laurel Ridge in McIntyre Township.
"There are 30 wind turbines and the site produces 69 megawatts of electricity," McGee said. "It would be capable of enough electricity to power more than 20,000 homes."
Township Supervisor Dan Clark said work was completed during the summer to erect the wind turbines.
The Lycoming County Planning Commission in 2011 approved land development plans for the wind farm proposed by Laurel Hill Wind Energy LLC, the parent company of Duke Energy.
That finally brought an end to long years of struggle between groups either favoring or opposing the project.
Many landowners felt the windmills created an eyesore on the rural landscape.
A permit for the project initially was rejected.
The wind energy project was proposed in a resource protection zoning district, and as such could be permitted only by special exception.
With a zoning ordinance change, that opened the way for wind energy projects in resource protection zones.
The issue made its way through the courts and ultimately, preliminary land development plans were approved by the commission in August 2008.
"Now that they are up I don't hear people complaining," Clark said. "Some people said they were ugly. I think they are kind of pretty. It sure is better than having a coal plant or a nuke plant.
Over 25 years the township stands to receive $900,000 from Duke Energy.
"This is part of an agreement for the township to share in proceeds of the project," McGee said. It is important for us to have a good relationship with the community, and that is what we strive to do. We are generally pretty active in communities. We are always eager to ensure that the project is good for everyone."
