Synergics Roth Rock Wind Energy is one step closer to winning state regulatory approval to build a wind turbine farm in Garrett County. The company has sought a thumbs up for the project since 2003.
Here's an excerpt:
"The Annapolis-based company plans to construct a 20-turbine facility on Backbone Mountain. The project has hit many roadblocks along the way, including angry neighbors who do not want the company to build the 262-foot-tall power generators.
Representatives for Synergics said before the Public Service Commission Wednesday that the company should not need to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity, the state's approval needed to build any type of generation facility.
Maryland lawmakers passed legislation in 2007 so renewable energy projects that produce less than 70 megawatts of power a year do not need to secure that approval, to increase the state's renewable power production. Instead, projects need to qualify for exemption.
The 50-megawatt Synergics project meets the generation requirement, and the conditions that the turbines will not harm the electricity grid and that the company notifies the PSC two weeks before it exports any power. One megawatt of wind energy powers about 1,000 homes for a year."
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