Last week in a 2 to 1 vote the Allegany County Board of Zoning Appeals granted a Special Exception for the construction of a proposed wind farm. According to officials with Laurel Renewable Partners LLC “the action, stemming from a 2018 decision from Maryland’s second-highest court, the Court of Special Appeals, remanding the decision back to the Board of Zoning Appeals reverses the Board’s December 2015 decision denying zoning approval for the proposed Dan’s Mountain Wind Farm. The project, in development since 2001, initially sought approval from the County in 2008 for the construction of a 25-turbine wind farm located entirely on private property on Dan’s Mountain. The County modified its zoning regulations as they relate to wind farms in 2009, sidelining the project until 2015 when Dan’s Mountain sought approval for a 17-turbine project. A utility-scale wind farm is a “permitted use” by special exception, subject to meeting certain criteria and a hearing before the Board of Zoning Appeals.” According to a press release from the developer, Laurel Renewable Partners, Allegany County would have received more than $10 million in property taxes so far if it had been constructed in 2009 as originally planned. “In many ways this project is a perfect example of a win-win. Not only will it bring new tax revenue, good construction jobs and a handful of operations and maintenance jobs, but it will also continue to stimulate the local economy and harness Western Maryland’s inexhaustible wind resource for clean energy production. It also supports Maryland’s recently passed 50% renewable energy by 2030 goal.”said David Friend, the developer’s managing partner. The state’s renewable energy goal was increased from 25% to 50% in May by the General Assembly. During the construction phase, Dan’s Mountain is expected to create205jobs statewide, representing approximately$12.9 million in labor income payroll and$30.4 million in regional economic output. Additional local jobs will be created to staff the plant, which will be supplemented with contractor services provided by area businesses. According to the American Wind Energy Association, there are currently 191 megawatts of wind capacity in Maryland. Dan’s Mountain would be the state’s fifth and Allegany County’s first.
In 2018 all three Allegany County Commissioners received $500 contributions to their election campaigns from Laurel Renewable Partners, LLC according to the campaign contribution website through the Maryland Board of Elections.
Darlene Park with Save Dan’s Mountain Organization says they are going to fight that decision. She says the project will directly impact at least five communities in Allegany County. She is asking residents who are against the project to contact the Public Service Commission with their concerns.
In June of 2017 The Maryland Public Service Commission has upheld a Public Utility Law Judge’s decision to deny the application of Dan’s Mountain Wind Force, LLC for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct a 59.5 megawatt wind energy generation facility in western Allegany County, Maryland. According to the order issued on June 16th by the PSC “ We find that the Project will have an adverse impact on the esthetics of the local communities on and around Dan’s Mountain. Further, we find that the adverse impact caused to the comfort of nearby residents by the noise produced and the shadow flicker perceived will not be fully mitigated by incorporating licensing conditions into a CPCN. Overall, in weighing the benefits against the adverse impacts that are unable to be mitigated by incorporating licensing conditions into the CPCN grant, we find that benefits that may accrue to the public at large by construction of the Project do not justify or offset subjecting the local community to the adverse impacts that will result from the Project’s construction and operation. Consequently, after giving due consideration to each of the factors and the other issues raised by the Parties, we find that grant of a CPCN for the Project is not in the public convenience and necessity.”
In Feb 2016 Officials with Dan’s Mountain Wind Force, LLC, filed an application with the Maryland Public Service Commission for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) . A pre-hearing conference was held in Baltimore on March 3rd. The PSC held a public comment hearing on March 22nd at the Holiday Inn Express on National Highway in LaVale at 7pm. In November 2015 the Allegany County Board of Zoning Appeals voted against granting variances for Dan’s Mountain Wind Force in a vote of 3-0. The vote halted plans for a 17 turbine wind farm on Dan’s Mountain.