Many people in northern Somerset County would cast an envious eye toward Butler County once they realized that this county is not dealing with the issue of wind farms.

People in one area of northeastern Somerset County are actively opposing plans by Gamesa Energy USA of Philadelphia to install a 30-turbine wind farm on what is known as Shaffer Mountain. The people's concerns revolve around road-building to provide access to the rural site, as well as fears of damage to water supplies, forest destruction and damage to wildlife habitat and prime hunting and fishing areas.

Signs opposing the Gamesa project in a county that already has a number of wind farms — including along the Pennsylvania Turnpike and a few miles from the Flight 93 Memorial — are visible on residential properties and along roads throughout the area.

Gamesa's Shaffer Mountain permit application, in the works for about two years, was rejected by the state Department of Environmental Protection for the third time in the spring. The company reportedly is working to address DEP's concerns, in hopes of gaining project approval.

Knowing how much of an issue wind farms have become in Somerset County, people of Butler County should not regard Cranberry Township's effort to develop up-to-date regulations for renewable energy sources as premature or an overreaction.

To its credit, Cranberry has been trying to stay out front in addressing change and new challenges. Putting emphasis on modern regulations for renewable energy is consistent with what has been happening in the township for several decades.

John Trant, the township's chief strategic planning officer, said the proposed ordinance is no different than when the township drew up regulations for cellular towers.

Earlier this fall, when discussion about a possible ordinance first was discussed, Ron Henshaw, Cranberry director of community development, said, "We want to encourage it where it belongs and restrict it from where it could be troublesome."

That is the right attitude.

Alternative energy sources are not confined to power companies. They have been showing up on residential properties, especially during the past decade.

As of October, the installed capacity of wind power in the United States was reported to be 31,000 megawatts, with wind power accounting for approximately 1.2 percent of the electricity generated in this country. The United States is reported to be on a trajectory to generate 20 percent of the nation's electricity from wind energy by 2030.

If and how that development might impact Butler County is an issue to be considered by forward-thinking public officials across the county.

As evidence of the intensity of the controversy now in play in northern Somerset County — despite more people looking at green technologies and renewable energy — is the fact that residents in the Shaffer Mountain area reportedly will seek a court injunction against the project if DEP issues a permit.

For Butler County residents, Somerset County and the issues it faces might seem like a world away. But that county is in fact only about 100 miles away, and it's anyone's guess what the future might hold.

Somerset County residents would agree with that notion about the uncertainties of the times.

Supporters of wind farms and residential wind turbines, as well as opponents, should continue to pay attention.