FAA: Somerset Wind Farm Not Plane Hazard After All

The Federal Aviation Administration says 15 of 30 wind turbines at a planned wind farm in southwestern Pennsylvania would not pose an aviation hazard as initially feared.

Last year, the FAA said 15 of the 404-foot-tall turbines planned for Shaffer Mountain in Somerset County were too high to be safe or could create electromagnetic interference in nearby air space.

At the time, FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said the finding was the first step in a give-and-take process that could result in Gamesa Energy USA putting the turbines in a different spot or changing their size. But, Gamesa said the FAA has determined the turbines don't pose a hazard.

Gamesa said the wind farm will produce enough electricity for 30,000 homes.