Wind turbine will be erected at Lanchester Landfill
One of 15 statewide being funded by grant to promote alternative energy sources.
By Rebecca C. Carroll
Published Jul 13, 2006 12:59
Gov. Ed Rendell on Wednesday announced a $193,000 grant to Southwest Windpower to erect the power-generating turbines at highly visible locations around the state.
The grant, from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority, is intended to encourage people to start thinking about alternative ways to power their homes and businesses.
“Alternative energy, especially wind energy, is soaring to new heights in Pennsylvania,” said Rendell. “This Small Wind Energy Project will bring these new sources of power into peoples’ daily lives.”
Each of the turbines, which resemble windmills, will cost $10,000 and be large enough to power a typical home.
But instead of providing electricity for homes, the Lanchester Landfill turbine will power a wireless Internet antenna. Any surplus energy will be sold, with proceeds going to a nearby elementary school.
The turbine will rest on a 35-foot tower and generate 1.8 kilowatts of electricity.
A spokesman for the state Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection was unsure when construction will start.
A criteria for receiving the grant, was to make sure the turbine would provide some type of educational value.
At the Lanchester Landfill — which is owned by the Chester County Solid Waste Management Authority — students often take tours to see how a landfill works.
With the turbine on display, students will be learn about alternative energy sources.
Pennsylvania leads all states east of the Mississippi in wind production, creating 153 megawatts of electricity, or enough to power 70,000 homes.
“America needs to create its own sources of energy and to power our future without sacrificing the quality of our environment,” said state Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty.
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