Financial benefits are clear. Tyrone Borough could receive as much as $150,000 annually, or between $3 million and $5 million, including royalties, over the life of the project. Gamesa has invested more than $200 million in Pennsylvania and employs 1,160 workers statewide, including nearly 300 in the Laurel Highlands.

Regulatory oversight is rigorous. Wind farms today can be sited properly and developed responsibly, with local, state and federal agencies involved in every facet of development.

Environmental impacts are minimal. Tyrone Borough’sforester concluded that he expected no negative environmental effects from a wind farm on watershed property, where there are already roads, buried phone cables and radio antennas. A borough-commissioned study, unveiled in December 2008, proved the wind farm poses very little risk to the watershed.

The project footprint is small. The wind farm would comprise less than 3% of the parcel area. Existing roads would be used as much as possible, with all but a 15-foot-wide gravel portion replanted with a wildlife-friendly seed mixture to protect the state’s rich hunting traditions.

Wind farms do not pollute waterways. Plenty of examples exist to show just the opposite is true. Gamesa already has experience building and operating in specially designated areas without impact.

Wind farms can be sited to avoid avian conflict. Gamesa takes exceptional measures to protect wildlife near its project areas, including avian analyses coordinated with and reviewed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Gamesa even signed a voluntary agreement with PGC to fully assess potential impact to wildlife at development sites.

Studies show no adverse noise impacts from the project. Sound was modeled as coming downwind from each turbine in every direction at once, to overestimate potential, and still no adverse noise impact was found.

Wind energy stabilizes electricity prices. Combined with conservation, the clean energy that Gamesa’s wind farms produce is critical to ensuring a reliable, affordable, homegrown energy future.