PENN TWP — The same wind that causes branches to sway at Succop Nature Park will turn a wind turbine there that will tower over treetops starting next year.

The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, which manages the park along with two other nature parks, has received a $50,000 grant to build the park’s Windstax turbine from the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund, a nonprofit organization that funds the development of sustainable energy.

But the park plans to build a turbine that may differ from the type most people might imagine.

Windstax specializes in vertical axis turbines, which the company’s website says are beginning to surpass horizontal axis turbines in efficiency, wildlife safety and popularity.

Rachel Handel, Audubon’s communications director, said the society hopes the turbine will symbolize the society’s commitment to environmental preservation. It also will be used as a way to educate and inspire people to lower their own carbon footprints and to be open minded about sustainable energy.

Despite being a nature park, the Succop park has facilities for educational classes, weddings and other events, all of which need electricity, so the society wants to build the wind turbine.

Joel Morrison, the fund’s director, said his organization late last year received 20 grant proposals, including one from Audubon. He said the fund typically looks for proposals to meet certain requirements including economic development, environmental betterment and public education.

“(Audubon’s project) fit all of those elements we typically look for,” Morrison said.

The grant will pay for the turbine’s major components, but the project will need funds to be completed.

Audubon is working to get that remaining funding for the base structure.

Handel said the society also is looking for additional funds to renovate the park’s historic barn which will be adjacent to the turbine. Audubon also plans to move a store and education classes into the finished barn.

She said the society’s goal is to complete the designs by this fall and to have a final estimate for the project’s cost.

Then it hopes to have the turbine operational by late this year or early next year.

Handel said a team of Audubon engineers estimated the turbine’s output would provide 8 to 10 percent of the barn’s power.

Once the turbine is operational, the public will be able to see its impact by visiting the Audubon’s website, where real-time generation and performance statistics are to be available.

Handel said when this project was discussed, the first concern was the impact the turbine could have on wildlife. She recalled picturing a large bladed windmill known for being hazardous to wildlife, especially birds and bats, but she was comforted by Windstax’s designs.

“We wanted to make sure we didn’t have a negative impact on the wildlife,” she said. “We chose this type of turbine because aesthetically it looks like a silo. It is low noise, poses little or no risk to birds or wildlife and is aesthetically attractive.”

Audubon Executive Director Jim Bonner said he is thankful for the grant and for the fund’s support.

“Audubon is excited to move forward with this real-world project that will not only reduce our impact on the environment but serve as a model that others can follow,” Bonner said.

Morrison said the West Penn Sustainable Energy Fund is typically misunderstood as being a part of the FirstEnergy utility company West Penn Power.

He said the two entities do work together occasionally, but they are separate with two different goals.

Morrison said to complement the grant, the West Penn Power Fund plans a meeting Sept. 10 at Succop Park to explore further opportunities in the Butler area and to educate the public about its mission.

“We’d love to find other projects in Butler that we could work with,” Morrison said. “We’re always looking to find projects in Western Pennsylvania that benefit the ratepayer.”