Developers National Wind Power and Orion Energy have had success with the smaller Green Mountain wind farm in Southwestern Pennsylvania. But now a group of environmental advocates is trying to prevent them from constructing a new 47-turbine wind facility atop Northeastern Pennsylvania's Moosic Mountain.

Kenneth Mayers, with the conservation group RESCUE, admits it's ironic for environmentalists to oppose wind farms, but says there are dozens of other locations in Northeastern Pennsylvania that would be more appropriate for development.

"They have high tension wires on them, they have cell towers on them," says Mayers about other nearby ridge tops. "So if you're going to essentially put up what amounts to an eyesore and something that's going to detract from the majestic appearance of mountains, you may as well do that where they've already been disrupted in some manner."

Mayers is quick to suggest that this isn't simply a case of not wanting development in his backyard. "It's not so much a question of its our backyard, but what's in our backyard," he says. "And that's one of the larger areas of undeveloped green spaces in this part of the state."

Mayers and RESCUE are calling for an independent analysis of the project, which would examine all of the environmental implications of construction on the site.

Orion Energy Vice President Reid Buckley says the company has already extensively researched the impact. "We are selling an environmentally preferred form of electricity," says Buckley. "So whether required by regulators or not, it's important for us to have that assurance and knowledge that this is an environmentally acceptable location for a project."

Buckley says experts had been brought in to look at potential threats to plants, migratory birds and other wildlife in the region. He says the planned location of several turbines was even moved to protect vegetation that provides habitat for a species of moth that is of special concern. Buckley says, in general, Orion and National Wind Power exceeded the requirements set forth by state agencies for permits.

But Kenneth Mayers and RESCUE won't be happy until an independent agency has a chance to examine the plans and their impact on the region. RESCUE has filed an appeal with the state Environmental Hearing Board over a permit for stormwater management. Despite that appeal, Orion expects to construction on the wind farm to begin later this year.