Gratz says no to wind turbine

GRATZ - Residents of Gratz gathered in borough chambers Wednesday evening to voice their opposition on the proposed construction of a wind turbine at Gratz Park Terrace.

Approximately 35 people attended the zoning hearing board meeting and the board heard their concerns and denied the Dauphin County Housing Authority a permit to construct the turbine.

"The turbine will reduce our energy costs drastically," said Charles Gassert, executive director of the Dauphin County Housing Authority, as he helped to make the authority's case to the zoning hearing board. "Electrical requirements from the grid are expected to be reduced by nearly 75 percent."

Gratz Park Terrace is a two-story residential structure in the borough containing 30 apartments for the elderly and persons with disabilities.

Last July 21, the Housing Authoirty of Dauphin County, which owns Gratz Park Terrace, applied for an American Recovery and Reinvenstment Act (ARRA) Competitive Grant in the amount of $1,240,000 to make various improvements to Gratz Park Terrace to make it a 'greener building,' more user friendly, and more energy efficient.

"We have 16 facilities in Dauphin County," said Gassert. "We chose Gratz for three reasons, Gratz Park Terrace is an all electric facility and the PPL rate increase really made an impact. Secondly, the proposed improvements to the facility is a green alternative energy and there is a really good wind here, since we have been losing shingles from the roof since the place was built in 1985, and thirdly, there is enough room to install a turbine at this location."

On September 23, 2009, the Housing Authority was informed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that the Authority's grant request in the full amount of $1,240,000 was approved by HUD. Although the Authority submitted a strong application, competition for the grant money was fierce and the Authority considers itself fortunate for the opportunity to make the improvements.

Primary work items to be accomplished with the grant funds are as follows: New metal roof with an expected life of 75 years; new solar hot water heating system to supply building hot water needs; new energy efficient fiberglass frame windows; new exterior wall surface (thermal envelope) composed of fiber cement siding and/or concrete masonry units (CMU); removal of existing sidewall insulation and installation of soy-based closed cell polyurethane foam insulation in existing stud spaces; installation of 1" rigid polyisocyanurate insulation; construction of new more energy efficient front entrance; and installation of a wind power system to generate electricity for the building.

The proposed wind turbine is an E3120 model and would stand 171.5' tall with the propellers in a vertical position with a 63' rotor diameter.

"Noise would not be a problem," according to Brian Whalen, ARM Group of Hershey, the engineering firm for the Authority. "The sound it makes will be covered up by other ambient noises that are generally heard when the wind is blowing."

Gratz resident 'Jolly' Jim Hepler questioned how safe the wind turbine is, and was concerned that the thing could malfunction and end up flying into neighbors yards or injuring someone.

"The turbine will not turn unless the wind is blowing at least 7.8 mph and it has a safety feature that it will cut out at 56 mph so it doesn't over rotate. The manufacturer claims it can withstand winds of up to 116 mph."

When asked if there is a turbine like this in use somewhere already that they could visit, Whalen admitted there is not one in operation in the state of Pennsylvania.

After hearing public comments on aesthetics, noise, safety, etc. Jolly Jim Hepler summed it up for the crowd when he said:

"There is no one hear against the Authority improving the building, we are against the Authority affecting our private properties," said Hepler. "This doesn't enhance our properties, it will lower our property value. We are the taxpayers of the community and this is our money at work and it is doing nothing to benefit our community."

The zoning hearing board consisting of Barry Williard, Bruce Koppenhaver and Charles 'Chuck' Schoffstall, went into an executive session and after reconvening, voted unanimously to deny the application to construct the wind turbine.

"We were shocked," said Gassert, in a telephone interview several days after the hearing. "That was not the answer we were expecting to hear."

Gassert said he didn't realize there was so much opposition in the community. He said there were no issues or complaints when the Authority was given approval in January to construct a 110' met tower for wind measurements.

"At this point we haven't received the written decision from the hearing so we haven't really been able to move forward or do anything yet," said Gassert. "Since the project was being completed with federal stimulus money we are obligated to spend the money by September 24, so we only have three months to come up with another alternative or risk having to send approximately a quarter of a million dollars back to HUD. We are hoping we can come up with other alternatives so the money can all stay in Gratz. The Authority and Gratz Borough Council has always had a good working relationship."

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