By SARA EDDY FURLONG

s.furlong@bradfordera.com

Hundreds of people had signed a change.org petition to ‘Stop the Black Cherry Wind Project in McKean County, PA,’ as of Friday afternoon.

Five hundred and fifty- six, to be exact. More than 140 people had also joined the Facebook group, McKean County Residents Against the Black Cherry Wind Turbine Project.

Swift Current Energy, a renewable energy development company based in Massachusetts, is looking to plant 500- to 650-foottall windmills across the county, in a project that reportedly would span Hamlin, Keating, Norwich, Liberty and Sergeant townships.

At an August meeting of Keating Township supervisors, at which Swift Current representatives were present, a restrictive ordinance was adopted that established protective setbacks.

Specifically, the ordinance requires any wind turbine to be set back from the nearest occupied building of a non-participating landowner’s property at 20 times the hub height. It must be set back 10 times the turbine height — from the foundation to its tallest point — from the nearest property line and five times the turbine height from the nearest public road.

During that meeting, Swift’s Dave D’Onofrio had stated, ‘(The setbacks outlined in Ordinance 110) would essentially make (the project) unbuildable.That would impact these five or six residents in Keating Township who were interested in being a part of this project.’

At that time, Swift Current reportedly had secured agreements for 29,000 of the 60,000 acres the project would require. According to data.census. gov, that accounts for nearly 10% of McKean County’s total acreage.

Since then, at least one landowner who had been interested changed his mind after a lawyer reviewed the lease agreement.

Jim Ladley, who owns about 200 acres on West Valley Road in Smethport, said, ‘The project doesn’t bother me so much. I’m not against it as much as I’m against the lease they tried to give me. It seemed to me they were taking away pretty near all my rights and I might not get anything out of it.’ For example, on page 3 of the lease agreement, a copy of which was provided to The Era, under section 1.2 Wind Easement, item (b) for shadow flicker states, ‘Lessor acknowledges that shadow flicker may occur due to operation of the Facilities. Lessor waives any claims or cause of action against Lessee … and … agrees not to object in any municipal, regulatory, or judicial proceeding.’

Flicker refers to the effect caused when rotating blades periodically cast shadows through, for Windmills… page A-8

A landscape view in Crosby, Norwich Township.

Photo courtesy of Carolyn Mechanye example, the windows of a home. Additional concerns include noise levels, safety and preserving the views of the Pennsylvania Wilds.

At the August Keating Township meeting, concerned resident Dave Ball, who had been diligently researching the matter, said he had stood at the base of a windmill and he “thought there was a jet flying overhead.”

‘Late 2027 or early 2028’ For its part, Swift Current Energy representative Joey Shannon said the leases can be adjusted and are not one-size-fitsall. Further, “Our projects are designed with local communities and cultural/ tourist attractions in mind.”

Regarding flicker, Shannon said, “We will design the facility in a manner that minimizes shadow flicker to the greatest extent possible … (it) can be mitigated and minimized with proper planning and siting and cumulatively occurs for only a few hours a year, typically around sunrise and sunset. The Black Cherry Wind Project will be designed so that shadow flicker does not exceed 30 hours per year, which represents less than 0.3% of annual daylight hours.

Our goal internally is to be substantially below this 30-hour threshold.”

He said Swift Current would adhere to all applicable guidelines in place, including those regarding setbacks and U.S. Fish and Wildlife wind energy guidelines. One to two years of detailed field study would be conducted and the project design potentially modified based on those results.

Shannon said the size of the turbines will be determined by the model selected based on overall project size. He said Swift is currently evaluating models in the “3 megawatt (MW) to 6 MW range” and anticipate the project will comprise 60 to 100 turbines. He further explained that participating townships would be allocated $500 per MW of capacity installed, “which equates to roughly $125,000 for each township annually.” Shannon said, “The Black Cherry Wind Project is progressing through development, and we currently anticipate that construction will begin in late 2027 or early 2028.”

To whom can residents appeal?

The petition, available at change.org/ BlackCherry, originated with residents of Norwich Township.

“We, the residents, camp owners, summer homeowners, property owners, business owners, visitors, and those who cherish McKean County, PA, urgently call on our township supervisors, county commissioners, state and federal officials, regulatory agencies and conservation groups to halt” the Black Cherry project, the petition states. “We further ask that the township supervisors DO NOT accept the ordinances or funds proposed by Swift Current Energy.”

Shortly after Keating Township in 2024, Hamlin and Liberty townships both followed suit with similar protective ordinances. Norwich Township’s draft ordinance is currently under review by its attorneys.

Secretary/Treasurer Melinda Keesee said any proposed ordinance would be made available to the public in advance of any meeting at which it would be discussed.

Norwich Township officials meet at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month, at 3853 West Valley Road in Smethport.

Liberty Township Secretary/Treasurer Cindy Speeth said Swift Current representatives proposed changes to the ordinance adopted last August that will need to be reviewed by attorneys. The matter will be discussed at Liberty Township’s next meeting, at 6:30 p.m. June 5 at the Port Allegany firehall, 65 W. Maple St.

Sergeant Township officials could not be reached for comment by press time Friday.

The petition further lists 11 “decision makers” — McKean County Commissioners Tom Kreiner, Carol Duffy and Marty Wilder; Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint; Gov. Josh Shapiro; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency; U.S. Department of the Interior; and Norwich Township Supervisors Paul Black, Dan Britton and James Thomas — with emails at which petitioners could contact them, where available. Each entry indicates “No response.”

The Era reached out to Causer and state Sen.

Cris Dush, R-Brookville, and all three county commissioners Friday, sharing the petition and asking, “To whom can (residents) appeal?”

Kreiner said, “The best place to start is with their municipality to determine if an ordinance is in place and if there is one, what are the restrictions and provisions.”

Wilder said commissioners “only recently became aware of the issue coming up again at the township meetings.”

She said, “I would be happy to meet with this group of residents.”

No other responses were received by press time Friday.

‘Outdoor recreation and hunting traditions’ A news release from change.org states, “Petition signers warn the wind farm could disrupt a region known for its outdoor recreation, hunting traditions and prized black cherry hardwood industry. The petition also calls out the lack of public consent.

This effort reflects growing rural resistance to industrial-scale energy projects that risk altering the fabric of local communities.”

The Pennsylvania Game Commission on April 24, 2018, enacted a moratorium on all wind energy projects on state game lands (SGLs). Since 2005, PGC has denied all 19 proposed wind projects on SGLs.

The resolution reads, “The Commission has generally determined that the high probability of adverse impacts to wildlife resources and recreational uses caused by wind energy development on SGLs is incompatible with its mandates under the Code to protect, propagate, manage and preserve the game and wildlife of the Commonwealth and promote recreational opportunities on SGLs.”

Just this week, Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau — Trail Central released a report by the Pennsylvania Office of Tourism that stated visitors in 2023 spent $183.9 million in McKean County.

Trail Central Executive Director Rustin Lippincott said, “While we applaud the economic development efforts … and identifying ways to foster sustainable energy and renewable sources, the adverse impact to the landscape backdrop of outdoor recreation must be considered.

“We are experiencing the impact of our number one attraction — Kinzua Skywalk — being largely unavailable to visitors (due to planned maintenance); it’s even more important we shine the light on the visitor economy and the many opportunities it affords, in addition to the adverse impact the windfarms will have on property values,” Lippincott continued. “If the project ultimately moves forward, we encourage the energy companies behind the windmills to become an active participant in infrastructure improvements and quality of life initiatives that benefit both residents and visitors.”

Hamlin Township Supervisor James Trussell said, “A very large majority of the people (in Hamlin Township) do not want it. Out of 100 people, 99 don’t want it.

“The sight of them on the hilltops and with our area, especially with our natural beauty that we have grown up with, to put something up like that just … it would ruin it.”