Wind Power on State Forests?
A Message from DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis
Should DCNR allow some limited commercial wind development in our state forests? That’s the question the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is asking itself and the public.
We’re asking because we believe that every Pennsylvanian must consider what he or she can do to help decrease our reliance on fossil fuels and foreign sources of energy and, perhaps, more importantly, how they can help slow the pace of global warming. Everyone can make a contribution toward these two moral imperatives, and so, too, should local, state and federal agencies.
While some states are obvious locations for the development of large scale solar energy production, Pennsylvania offers the nation a real opportunity when it comes to generating energy from wind.
Like any source of energy, wind energy is not without challenges. We need to understand how windmills affect wildlife and our landscape. DCNR takes these concerns seriously, and we have worked cooperatively with government, non-profit, and wind industry experts through the Pennsylvania Wind and Wildlife Collaborative to craft real solutions that protect wildlife and gather all-important scientific data to improve their effectiveness.
By leading this important work, DCNR is building on its nationally recognized track record of protecting public lands. Under Governor Rendell’s leadership, Pennsylvania’s state forests continue to be one of only three in the nation that are certified as sustainably managed. DCNR, at the direction of the Governor, has added more than 40,000 acres of protected land to our state parks and forest system. After decades of no growth in the park system, in 2004 we christened the newest state park in Erie County.
As we enter this discussion of possibly siting windmills on a small portion of state forests, we should keep in mind that our state forest system was never intended to be a preserve. Already our forests are tapped for timber, oil and gas, and, most recently in remote locations, communications towers have been installed to enable broadband phone service to extend to rural Pennsylvania.
I am committed to ensuring that science, not emotion, drives our decision-making. Right now, no decision has been made about siting wind farms in state forests. But when a decision is made, it will be based on science, reasonable conclusions and on an unwavering commitment to preserving the protected lands of this state.
In fact, it is this very commitment to our public lands and forests that drives DCNR to enter the fray. Our forests already are suffering the affects of both our national over-reliance on fossil fuels, and the urgent threat of global warming. Only by taking our head out of the sand and looking for creative solutions will we fully understand if our assets can be used wisely to address the nation’s energy crisis and the astonishing perils of global warming
Secretary
DCNR