The NPDES permit, issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, indicates that the developer has effectively addressed the discharge of storm water from its construction activities. "The proposed site meets the department's environmental regulatory requirements," says Kenneth Bowman, Southwest regional director of DEP, in a statement. He says the permitting process involved "intensive review by DEP water quality experts to ensure that no adverse environmental impacts would result from construction of the wind farm."

The permit, plus the township's blessing, paves the way for phase one of the Highland project. It calls for construction of 20 wind turbines on 43 acres of a 4,371-acre former abandoned strip mine. Calls to EverPower were not returned by deadline.

According to its website, this phase is expected to yield 65 megawatts of electricity, and EverPower expects to begin construction in the first quarter of 2008. A second phase, for which no timeline is indicated, will yield 50 megawatts.