SUNBURY - Altered plans have delayed construction of wind turbines in Coal and East Cameron townships.
Justin Dunkelberger, chief executive officer of Penn Wind LLC, told the Sunbury Daily Item for Friday's edition that a change in the size of the turbines, from 420 to 470 feet, has forced the firm to apply for a highway occupancy permit from state Department of Transportation to deliver the equipment to the site.
Commissioner Vinny Clausi said Saturday that the county is owed $56,000 by April 1. He previously said the fee was due annually until they are constructed.
"I would like to see the project come through, it would create jobs, but I also must protect the taxpayers of Northumberland County," Clausi said of collecting the fee.
Penn Wind LLC has planned to erect three wind turbines on Northumberland County-owned property and another three turbines on pri-
vately-owned land in the two townships.
A 29-year lease was struck between Penn Wind and the county 1 1/2 years ago for 75 acres of land, with the county receiving 6 percent of the profits from electricity generated by the turbines.
At the time the $30 million project was announced, Dunkelberger said he anticipated it would require 100 full-time and 85 part-time positions in design, management and maintenance.