Petition Target:

• President Donald J. Trump
• Vice President JD Vance
• Senator John Fetterman
• Senator Dave McCormick
• PA Senator Chris Dush
• PA State Rep. Martin Causer
• Township Supervisors of Hamlin, Keating, Norwich, Sergeant, and Liberty Townships
• McKean County Commissioners
• Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro
• Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)
• PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship / PA Wilds Planning Team
• Pennsylvania Game Commission
• Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• U.S. Department of the Interior
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
• Department of Government Efficiency
• Allegheny Defense Project
• U.S. Department of Defense
• 175th Wing
• U.S. Department of Transportion
• Federal Aviation Administration
• National Audubon Society
• Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter

Petition Introduction:  We, the residents, camp owners, summer homeowners, property owners, business owners, visitors, and those who cherish McKean County, PA, urgently call on our township supervisors, county commissioners, state and federal officials, regulatory agencies, and conservation groups to halt Swift Current Energy’s "Black Cherry Wind Project" in Hamlin, Keating, Norwich, Sergeant, and Liberty townships. This massive 600-megawatt industrial wind farm, proposed across approximately 60,000 acres—nearly 10% of McKean County's land—would erect dozens of turbines up to 650 feet tall, funded largely by foreign investors and designed to export power to New York, providing zero direct electricity benefits to Pennsylvania residents while devastating our local environment, economy, and communities. The Black Cherry Wind Project negatives far outweigh any purported benefits, including severe wildlife harm, health risks from noise and infrasound, economic losses from declining property values and tourism, and environmental degradation through deforestation and potential PFAS contamination.

This petition expands on a grassroots effort that began in Norwich Township, which stated: “NO MEGAWATT WIND TURBINES IN NORWICH! We are asking you to say NO to wind turbines in Norwich Township, Pennsylvania. By signing this petition, you are stating that you are a Norwich Township resident, homeowner, property owner or business owner and that you DO NOT want wind turbines in Norwich Township. We further ask that the township supervisors DO NOT accept the ordinances or funds proposed by Swift Current Energy." We honor this call and extend it to all affected townships, reaching out to a broader community—residents, camp owners, summer homeowners, visitors, and future generations—who value this area, as well as agencies that may be unaware of the project’s impacts. Together, we aim to protect McKean County’s natural beauty and way of life from a project driven by out-of-state corporate interests and foreign capital.

Why This Matters:  McKean County is a sanctuary of natural beauty, cherished by residents, camp owners, summer homeowners, hunters, visitors, and future generations. Smethport, Port Allegany, Hazle Hurst, and Crosby thrive on their forests, streams, and wildlife, supporting hunting traditions in the Allegheny National Forest and drawing visitors to the Knox & Kane Rail Trail. We envision a future where our children and future generations hunt in the same forests, visitors marvel at our vistas, and our black cherry trees—the finest in the world—stand tall. The Black Cherry wind project, ironically named after the very trees it will destroy, threatens this legacy with dozens of 500- to 650-foot turbines across Hamlin, Keating, Norwich, Sergeant, and Liberty townships, impacting our environment, economy, and way of life. This project is majority-owned by funds managed by IFM Investors, an Australian firm, highlighting how foreign money is funding the industrialization of Pennsylvania's landscapes for external gain.

Painting a Picture:  Our Area, History, and Required Future to Preserve Our Legacy Our Area Today: Imagine standing on a ridge in McKean County, surrounded by rolling hills blanketed in dense forests of black cherry, hemlock, and maple, their vibrant fall colors stretching to the horizon. Below, clear streams like Blacksmith Run, Marvin Creek, Potato Creek wind through the valleys, teeming with wild brook trout. Deer and black bears roam the Allegheny National Forest, while the calls of ruffed grouse and hawks echo through the air. In Smethport, Port Allegany, Hazle Hurst, and Crosby, quaint communities bustle with life—locals gather at the Crosby Fire Hall, visitors explore the Knox & Kane Rail Trail, and families retreat to cabins located directly within affected and surrounding areas, savoring the quiet that defines our sanctuary. This is a place where the air is crisp, the nights are starlit, and the peace is unbroken by industrial noise.

Our Rich History:  McKean County’s legacy is woven into its land and people. Smethport, founded in 1807, and Port Allegany, established in 1815, grew along the Allegheny River, their economies rooted in lumber, glassmaking, and the Iroquois heritage of the region. Hazle Hurst and Crosby emerged as logging and railroad hubs, their landscapes marked by hazel shrubs and Swedish immigrant roots. For centuries, families have hunted and fished here, preserving traditions passed down through generations. Conservation efforts, like the Smethport Dam removal in 2009 and the Sterling Run Conservation project, have restored our streams and forests, ensuring they remain a haven for wildlife and a refuge for all who seek solace.

The Future We Must Preserve:  To honor this legacy, we must ensure McKean County remains a timeless sanctuary. We envision a future where our children and future generations hunt white-tailed deer and black bears in the same forests their ancestors did, where camp owners and summer homeowners escape to cabins filled with the sounds of nature—not turbine noise—and where visitors continue to be captivated by our unspoiled vistas. Our black cherry trees must stand tall for centuries, not be felled for a project that bears their name in irony. We must preserve the quiet, the wildlife, and the heritage that define McKean County, ensuring it remains a place of peace and pride for all who call it home or dream of visiting its shores.

The Devastating Impacts:

• Wildlife Harm: The project threatens the endangered Indiana bat and northern long-eared bat, risking violations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Turbines kill migratory birds, potentially breaching the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), with studies estimating 2-4 bird deaths per turbine annually—thousands over the project’s lifespan. Large-scale wind farms like this can disrupt migration patterns and fragment habitats for species like deer, bears, and ruffed grouse.
• Environmental Damage: Construction will clear vast forests, including our prized black cherry trees and hemlocks—a cruel irony given the project’s name—fragmenting habitats and increasing acid mine drainage into streams like Blacksmith Run, undoing decades of conservation work. This includes potential leases with Lyme Timber Company, which owns significant timberlands in the area and has confirmed discussions with Swift Current for wind development, prioritizing industrial energy over sustainable forestry and leading to deforestation of scenic ridgelines. Visual impacts would compromise the aesthetic value of our area, with flashing lights at night and industrial blight visible from afar.
• Health and Safety Risks: Turbine noise (40-50 decibels at 640 feet) causes sleep disruption, headaches, and stress for residents, camp owners, and summer homeowners. Blade throw and fires pose dangers, with our volunteer fire department ill-equipped to respond. Constant drone and shadow flicker could exacerbate health issues in rural communities.
• Economic Losses: Property values could drop by up to 8% within a 1-mile radius (2019 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study), costing homeowners, camp owners, and property owners millions. Tourism, vital to our economy, will decline as visitors avoid the industrial landscape, impacting local businesses. The project offers no electricity benefits to Pennsylvania, as it is registered in the NYISO grid and will export power to New York, supporting NY's green energy goals like 9 GW of wind by 2035 while burdening PA with the costs and harms.
• Financial Instability: Without federal funding, which the Trump administration is cutting, the project’s return on investment could take over 100 years for a modest 10% return. The wind sector’s volatility—Siemens Gamesa reported a minus 4% profit margin, Vestas lost $1.2 billion in 2022—means Swift Current Energy could abandon the project, leaving us with cleanup costs after the 9-year provision expires. Foreign funding from IFM Investors adds uncertainty, as profits flow overseas rather than benefiting local economies.
• Lack of Consent and Reckless Corporate Behavior: Swift Current has engaged in reckless tactics, including offering financial incentives (e.g., $125,000/year per township) perceived by residents as bribes to pressure changes in local ordinances, and expressing intentions to challenge or "break" township rules if they hinder the project. These actions prioritize corporate profits over community voices and could lead to legal threats against townships, mirroring aggressive behaviors in other renewable projects. Additionally, Swift Current Energy employs RenUSA Inc., a specialized energy communications firm, for public and government relations, including targeted SMS campaigns and phone calls to residents promoting project benefits and events in an effort to build support—tactics viewed by many locals as manipulative "softening" efforts to override community opposition and push the project forward despite widespread concerns.
• Pennsylvania Game Commission Stance:  The PGC has denied ALL 19 wind turbine proposals on State Game Lands since 2005, citing high risks to wildlife such as habitat fragmentation and bird fatalities, and formalized this stance with a moratorium in 2018—a precedent our townships must follow to protect species near the Allegheny National Forest.

Our Call to Action:  We demand the following to protect McKean County for residents, camp owners, summer homeowners, visitors, and future generations:

1. Halt the Project: Township supervisors must deny Swift Current Energy’s permits, and federal agencies (FWS, DOI, EPA, FERC) should issue a stop-work order, following the Empire Wind 1 halt in April 2025. Investigate foreign funding and NYISO registration to ensure no undue external influence.
2. Investigate Compliance: The FWS, EPA, and PGC must investigate Swift Current Energy’s compliance with the ESA, MBTA, and Clean Water Act, given the project’s threat to bats, birds, and streams, as it nears the construction phase. Scrutinize Lyme Timber leases for environmental conflicts.
3. Reject Funds and Ordinances: As the original petition demands, township supervisors must reject Swift Current Energy’s proposed funds and ordinances, which fail to protect our community and amount to coercive incentives to alter local laws.
4. Adopt Protective Ordinances: We urge the adoption of strong ordiances.

Why Sign Now? The Black Cherry project is nearing the construction phase, threatening irreversible harm to our wildlife, landscape, and community—a place cherished by residents, camp owners, summer homeowners, visitors, and future generations. This petition extends the original call from Norwich Township to a broader audience, ensuring that everyone connected to McKean County can have their voice heard, even if they can’t sign in person at local gathering spots. By signing, you join a unified effort to say NO to megawatt wind turbines in McKean County, rejecting foreign-funded industrialization that benefits New York at Pennsylvania's expense. Together, we can preserve our home for all who love it now and in the future. Sign now to protect McKean County!

Summary: Why the Black Cherry Wind Project Must Be Stopped – Key Negatives and Opposition
The Black Cherry Wind Project by Swift Current Energy poses severe threats to McKean County's pristine environment, local economy, and community health, with negatives far outweighing any claimed benefits. This foreign-funded, 600-megawatt industrial wind farm—registered in NYISO (C24-298 for Black Cherry Wind 1 and C24-299 for Black Cherry Wind 2, & a separate battery storage project, Black Cherry BESS, also has the ID C24-309) and exporting power solely to New York—offers zero electricity advantages to Pennsylvania residents while risking endangered species like the Indiana bat, causing bird fatalities in violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and fragmenting habitats for deer, bears, and ruffed grouse. Environmental damage includes deforestation of valuable black cherry forests, increased acid mine drainage into streams such as Blacksmith Run, and potential PFAS contamination from turbine blades leaching forever chemicals into soil and water.
Health risks from the Black Cherry Wind Project are alarming, with turbine noise, infrasound, and shadow flicker linked to sleep disruption, headaches, tinnitus, vertigo, and stress—exacerbating "wind turbine syndrome" in rural areas. Economic downsides are equally devastating: property values could plummet by up to 8% near turbines, tourism in areas like the Allegheny National Forest and Knox & Kane Rail Trail would decline due to industrial blight, and temporary jobs fail to offset long-term financial instability, including cleanup costs if the volatile wind sector leads to project abandonment.
Amid widespread Black Cherry Wind Project opposition and controversies, Swift Current's reckless tactics—such as offering "bribes" of $125,000 annually to townships to alter ordinances, threatening legal action, and using RenUSA for manipulative PR campaigns—undermine community consent and prioritize foreign profits from IFM Investors over local voices. Lyme Timber leases further highlight conflicts, favoring industrial development over sustainable forestry. Join the growing Swift Current Energy complaints by signing this petition to halt the project, protect McKean County's legacy, and ensure a future free from these irreversible harms. Search for "Black Cherry Wind Project negatives" or "oppose Black Cherry Wind Project" to learn more about the mounting evidence against it.

Further Information:

Who Owns Swift Current Energy: Ownership Structure and Financial Flow
Swift Current Energy, the developer behind the Black Cherry Wind Project, operates within a complex web of ownership, funding, and financial incentives typical of the renewable energy sector. Below is a detailed breakdown of its ownership history, current structure, funding sources, use of funds, tax credits, and how money flows through the company—based on public records and announcements as of July 2025.

Ownership History and Current Structure

• Current Ownership (as of July 22, 2025): Swift Current Energy is owned by funds managed by IFM Investors, an Australian-based global investment manager specializing in infrastructure. This followed a spin-out from Buckeye Energy Holdings, where Buckeye transferred its ownership interest directly to IFM-managed funds. IFM, which oversees approximately $140 billion in assets for institutional investors like pension funds, focuses on sustainable infrastructure investments, including renewables.
• Previous Ownership:
  • Buckeye Partners/Energy Holdings (Majority Owner until July 2025): Buckeye Partners, L.P., a Houston-based midstream energy company owned by IFM Investors since 2019, acquired majority ownership of Swift Current in April 2021 alongside Nala Renewables. Buckeye, itself a subsidiary of the IFM Global Infrastructure Fund, invested to accelerate Swift Current's U.S. growth in clean energy. By 2024, Buckeye held the majority stake, with minority interests from the IFM Net Zero Infrastructure Fund and Lookout (a private investment firm).
  • Nala Renewables (Co-Investor until 2023): In 2021, Nala Renewables (a joint venture between Trafigura Group and IFM Investors) co-acquired majority ownership with Buckeye. In February 2023, Nala spun out its stake to its shareholders, with Trafigura's portion subsequently sold to Buckeye, consolidating control under Buckeye/IFM.
• Founders and Management: Swift Current was founded in 2016 by industry veterans. It remains partner-owned at the operational level, with management retaining some equity, but strategic control resides with IFM funds post-spin-out.

Funding Sources: How Swift Current Gets Its Money
Swift Current finances its projects through a mix of equity, debt, and tax equity arrangements, leveraging government incentives and private capital:

• Equity from Owners/Investors: Primary equity comes from its owners (now IFM funds). For instance, the 2021 acquisition by Buckeye and Nala provided initial growth capital. IFM's funds, sourced from global institutional investors (e.g., pension funds, sovereign wealth funds), invest in renewables for long-term returns, often targeting net-zero goals.
• Debt Financing: Swift Current secures loans and credit facilities from banks. Examples include:
  • A $150 million syndicated corporate credit facility in 2024 from KeyBanc, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC).
  • $779 million in project financing for the Double Black Diamond Solar Project in 2023, involving construction debt and long-term loans.
• Tax Equity Investments: Major corporates provide upfront capital in exchange for tax benefits. Notable deals:Google invested tax equity in the 800 MW Double Black Diamond Solar Project (2024) and a 260 MW Texas solar project (2024), utilizing adders from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
• Revenue from Operations: Ongoing income from Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with utilities and corporates, bank hedges, and revenue swaps. These contracts guarantee long-term power sales, providing stable cash flow.
• What They Do With the Money
  Project Development and Operations: Funds are primarily used for developing, constructing, and operating renewable energy projects like wind and solar farms. This includes land acquisition, permitting, environmental studies, construction (e.g., turbines for Black Cherry), and asset management. For the Black Cherry Wind Project, capital would cover clearing forests, building infrastructure, and connecting to the NYISO grid.
• Growth and Expansion: Investments support portfolio buildout, such as securing $300 million in 2024 for renewable projects. Profits are reinvested into new developments or distributed to owners.
• Community and Incentive Payments: Swift Current offers financial incentives to local entities (e.g., $125,000/year per township for ordinance changes), viewed by critics as coercive. These are funded from project budgets to facilitate approvals.

Tax Credits: Who Gets Them and How They Flow

• Types of Tax Credits Utilized: Swift Current leverages U.S. federal incentives under the IRA, including Investment Tax Credits (ITC) for solar (up to 30% of costs, with adders for domestic content and energy communities) and Production Tax Credits (PTC) for wind (based on energy produced). These reduce tax liabilities and attract investors.
• Who Gets the Tax Credits: In tax equity structures, the tax credits and depreciation benefits flow to the tax equity investor (e.g., Google), who has significant taxable income to offset. Swift Current, as the developer, receives upfront capital (often 20-40% of project costs) in exchange, enabling construction without bearing the full financial burden.
• Financial Flow Example: For a project like Double Black Diamond:
  • Swift Current develops the asset.
  • Google provides tax equity (~$100-300 million per deal, based on examples).
  • Google claims ITC/PTC (e.g., 30%+ adders) on its taxes, recouping investment over time.
  • Swift Current retains operational control and revenue from power sales, paying back investors through cash flows.
  • Ultimate profits (after debt service) go to equity owners (IFM funds), who distribute returns to their institutional backers.

Following the Money: Overall Financial Ecosystem

• Inflow: Institutional capital from IFM (pensions/global funds) → Equity to Swift Current → Supplemented by bank debt and corporate tax equity (e.g., Google) → Government subsidies via tax credits.
• Outflow: Funds used for project costs (construction, land leases with entities like Lyme Timber) → Revenue from PPAs (power sold to NY utilities/corporates) → Repayments to lenders/investors → Profits to IFM funds → Returns to pension holders/investors overseas.
• Key Concerns: Critics argue this structure funnels U.S. tax dollars (via credits) to foreign entities like IFM (Australian), with minimal local benefits. Volatility in the sector (e.g., potential abandonment) could leave cleanup costs to taxpayers, while profits flow abroad.

This ownership and financial model prioritizes scale and returns for global investors, often at the expense of local communities, as seen in the Black Cherry project's controversies.

Please visit Black Cherry Wind Scam for up to date information and learn other ways to support our efforts!

Disclaimer: All information presented in this petition is based on publicly available knowledge, records, corporate disclosures, and standard industry practices as of the petition's creation. This document is intended for educational and advocacy purposes only, to inform stakeholders about potential impacts and concerns related to the Black Cherry Wind Project. If any information is found to be incorrect or outdated, we commit to openly correcting it upon verification. Our goal is transparency and fostering informed discussion, not unfounded accusation.