Richland County leaders talk wind turbines
Richland County Commissioners formed a new group to study how to bring wind-generated electric power to the county.
Commissioner Tim Wert, chairman of the Richland Wind Working Group, said there is statewide and nationwide interest in alternative energy and the possibility of a new power source through wind turbines.
“We can optimize opportunities to get wind energy into Richland County,” Wert said. “It would put a lot of money into the county and improve our infrastructure.”
The group introduced Dennis Leader from Morrow County’s Shauck Ridge Wind group at Wednesday’s meeting at the Richland County Regional Planning office to discuss Leader’s plans to bring wind energy to Morrow County, and how Richland County can get started.
Leader said Morrow County, rich in wind power, “hit the wind lottery” as several wind energy developers approached landowners with interest in building turbines. Leader’s group and the developers are 15 months into the planning for building several turbines on 50 square miles of land.
He said the developers would need at least five years to assess the land and wildlife in a site survey.
“You want to make sure you are doing business with the right person and getting a fair deal,” Leader said. “Wind turbines are becoming more efficient as they are manufactured.”
Morrow County will use American Electric Power Ohio’s electrical grid of 130 kb electronic transmission lines for a 50 to 100 kilowatt wind turbine, Leader said.
Glenna Cannon, superintendent of Pioneer Career and Technology Center and Business Director Mark Herbert were interested in the project’s educational potential for high school students.
“We see it as a new frontier,” Herbert said.
By Terricha Bradley
9 October 2008
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Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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