The "Imported From Lancaster County!: Part 2" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting in our new Costco lawn chairs watching our grandson Caden play baseball in a small town along the mighty Susquehanna River called Cresswell.  Had to make a stop along the way at a small neighborhood park pavilion to ask for directions from a fellow who was setting up for a surprise birthday party.  It was maybe 60 years ago that I played baseball at a ball field in Cresswell and for some reason they must have moved it ... or maybe I just forgot where it was.  Anyway we got there by the second inning and sat with our son and our daughter-in-law.  

The twin wind turbines from Turkey Hill Dairy.

Off in the distance behind the rightfield wall were two huge wind turbines turning in the brisk breeze that was blowing this Saturday morning.  They were installed by Turkey Hill Dairy in 2010 to help generate electricity for their ice-cream and iced tea factory.  Someone sitting near us asked us if we had seen the letter-to-the-editor in the Lancaster Newspaper which questioned how many wildlife fatalities and injuries have occurred since the wind turbines had been installed.  

Trucks delivering the wind turbines to Turkey HIll Dairy.

Now, these are the same 397-foot-high twin turbines that have 135-foot-long blades that turn about maybe 20 MPH in a wind that averages 14.5 MPH.  I guess a regular windmill might gain speed when the wind picks up, but these are supposedly constantly turning at the same speed.  So how could a bird or bat be killed by the blades?  I have no idea.  My guess is that they may sit on the blades and take a ride when their wings are tired.  

Wind turbines shortly after they were installed.

I to would not want to see animals killed, but I believe that the twin turbines, which create about 7.5 million kWh of electricity annually, will be a big help to the environment in Lancaster County.  The estimated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is equivalent annually to about: removing 1,000 cars from the road, reducing gasoline consumption by 600,000 gallons, or reducing our imported oil needs by 12,000 barrels of oil.  Turkey Hill, our nation's fourth largest-selling premium ice cream and top-selling refrigerated iced tea, began full wind generation in early 2011.

The wind turbines are seen to the rear
of the Turkey Hill Dairy.

The wind turbines were proposed beginning in 2003 and were finally installed on the nearby Frey Farm located on Turkey Hill along the banks of the Susquehanna River.  They were made possible by $4 million in tax credits and a federal stimulus fund grant.  They stand about double the tallest structure in Lancaster County, the 14 story Griest Building in downtown Lancaster.  The turbines are visible for miles along the river.  The base of each turbine is a 52-foot-diameter concrete pad.  So, you see, these really neat wind turbines on the hill in front of us will help our environment much more than they will ever harm it.  Hey, I got to go.  My grandson is gonna bat next!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.