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Officials dedicate Cambria County wind project

By Matt Churella 5 min read

PATTON -- Officials gathered Wednesday at Rock Run Recreation Area to formally dedicate Rogue's Wind, Competitive Power Ventures' 114-megawatt wind project in Cambria and Clearfield counties that began operations this summer.

Rogue's Wind is the company's third operating asset in Cambria County, following the Fairview Energy Center in Jackson Township and Maple Hill Solar in Portage Township.

All three projects total an investment of more than $1.5 billion into the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and showcase the company's "diverse operating portfolio approach to responsibly answering rising energy demands," said Sherman Knight, Competitive Power Ventures' chief executive officer.

Competitive Power Ventures has been developing, building and operating large scale natural gas and renewable generation projects across the country for the past 26 years, Knight said.

"We also have multiple additional projects that we hope to continue that process moving forward," he said.

Mike Resca, executive vice president of CPV renewable power, said the 114 megawatts generated from the project's 19 wind turbines is enough to power about 32,000 homes. The project has been in operation since July, he said, noting it spans about 6,200 acres in Cambria and Clearfield counties.

Rogue's Wind demonstrates how brownfield redevelopment, innovative engineering and strategic partnerships can lead complex project challenges that develop new economic drivers in Pennsylvania, Knight said.

"This project stands as a testament to what's possible when everyone works together to invest in their energy," he said.

Cambria County Commissioner Tom Chernisky said the project represents an investment in energy, workforce and the county's future.

"Here in Cambria County, we believe outdoor recreation, energy, aviation and other emerging industries can all be part of building a stronger and more diversified economy," Chernisky said.

Tom Kakabar, Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority's board chairman, said the project dates back more than 20 years to when Rock Run Recreation Area was acquired using state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources funding and a master plan was developed for the site.

Rock Run opened in 2007 after converting land previously owned by a coal company into what is now more than 140 miles of trails used by ATV and dirt bike riders from across 28 states. Board Chairman Gary Haluska, who was a state representative at the time, approached DCNR and the Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority in 2005 about acquiring the land, after finding out the coal-mining company was going out of business.

DCNR provided a grant to purchase the land, and a group of riders formed an advisory board to the recreation authority to provide guidance on how to best develop the property, according to Haluska. The board then hired a Pittsburgh company to develop its master site development plan, which it took back to DCNR for another grant to develop the entrance road, visitor center and the first 50 miles of trail.

"The development of the master plan always included the development of wind energy," Kakabar said, noting the recreation authority previously had an original developer that was unsuccessful in completing the project.

Kakabar recognized Tom Strittmatter, a past recreation authority board member and president who unexpectedly died in 2015, the same year Cliff Kitner took over as the recreation authority's executive director from Dee Columbus.

"This project was his passion," Kakabar said of Strittmatter.

Kitner recalled being asked in his interview whether he could grow a wind farm and used a sports analogy to express how it takes the right people being at the right place and time to develop a winning team.

"Whether I knew anything about building a wind farm or not, it was about getting the right people at the right place at the right time," Kitner said.

Competitive Power Ventures, which came into the picture in 2019, was "the right teammate to help us put all of this through," Kitner said.

"To be able to bring together a team to make this project a reality, we had the right people at the right time to win that Super Bowl. So, thank you for everything you did to come in and get us to that championship," Kitner said to the Competitive Power Ventures team.

Knight said his team is "absolutely dedicated to their work," and the company takes its role as a community partner to heart.

They concluded the event by presenting a $20,000 check to the Cambria County Regional Firefighters Association for its John Bem tuition assistance program, a scholarship fund that assists firefighters and/or immediate family members of firefighters in good standing with the association through their post-secondary education.

Paul Kundrod, the firefighter association's treasurer, said the donation is "a tremendous help" that will fund the program, so the association can continue awarding perpetual scholarships, which are awarded every July at the association's annual convention.

"This will go a long way in helping us fund that program," Kundrod said.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.

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