GARRETT - One of Pennsylvania’s first wind farms is seeing its turbines disappearing.

Eight turbines are being torn down in Somerset County and are being replaced with new technology.

The operators of the turbines, NextEra Energy Resources, said the turbines were decommissioned in December 2015 because they no longer had a customer for the electricity.

“The eight turbines are simply older technology," said NextEra Energy spokesman Bryan Garner. "They were very well maintained, could have continued to operate for years to come but simply there are others ways to generate the power that is more cost effective.

"And now we’ll have a customer coming from an older facility.”

The eight turbines, owned by Green Mountain Wind Energy Center, were one of the first ones built in Pennsylvania.

Garner said they generate about 10 megawatts of power. They will now be replaced with battery storage.

“Battery storage helps regulate the voltage that goes to power the grid. As you know, the wind's not always blowing, mills aren’t always generating electricity. Those down times, the battery storage helps speed the grid, regulate the voltage and provide greater reliability to customers,” said Garner.

As for the other turbines throughout Somerset County, Garner said they are under long-term contracts and will not be torn down.

The project for the eight windmills started in November and is expected to be complete by mid-December.

Garner said the land will be restored to its original state once they are all removed.

ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRfmraotNNmrqKmlGLBtr7BoqWeq12eu26%2Fzqacq6uVqXqku9Snq7Jlkpq2r7OMq5yppJGYsqV51qKroWWemsRuwMScn6ennKS0ug%3D%3D