Concerns voiced by visiting citizens brought fresh wariness to board members at the April 14 meeting, primarily as those concerns regard rumors of changes to the proposed PennEast Pipeline’s diameter and accompanying enlargement of at least one pump station.

Linda Christman of Carbon County cited swirling rumors and the perceived leverage the authority possesses in the pipeline deal – being the single largest landowner involved in the project – as reason enough for her appearance in the city.

Executive Director Steven Repasch said he’d heard similar rumblings months ago but had heard any such plans had been put to bed.

President John Tallarico said the final decision on the pipeline proposal has been pushed back to early next year, following the expected release of an official impact statement in December.

Meanwhile the wind energy project is mere weeks away from a milestone in the development process but still more than a year away from any final decision.

Repasch said Iberdrola Renewables representatives will be submitting applications for planners in Penn Forest Township near the end of the month in anticipation of meetings with zoners and supervisors. They will also hold a public community meeting April 27 at the local fire hall to directly address property owners’ concerns.

Iberdrola/Atlantic Wind Project Manager Craig Poff spoke with the board via phone and said the process for the company is involved, as all plans must comply with what regulating agencies expect before any permits will be awarded or energy customers will be signed.

Poff said Iberdola currently has four sensor towers erected in watershed areas, as well as a LIDAR tower and soon a massive 100-meter tower. As the company considers the viability of as many as 37 huge wind turbines in the Monroe County area, these sensor devises and ongoing data are measuring ground water, avian studies, photo simulations of possible turbine locations, and will commence animal migration and bat studies in the summer. Next year will see wetlands and FAA studies.

If the project is finalized, construction of the turbines is estimated to begin in early 2018 with operations begging late in the year.

The board has also once again heard from fair-weather friend Rentricity, which for years has initiated talks with the authority to install small turbines within the city’s water infrastructure to generate electricity from the 13 million gallons of water constantly surging through the pipes daily. Repasch said Rentricity reps visited and took new data for analysis, saying they now have investors interested in a project this size.

The next meeting is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. May 12 at city hall.