Wind Power News: Ohio
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted.
Renewable energy project hinges on permit, incentives
HAVILAND — A global renewable energy company is moving closer toward construction of a 350 megawatt wind farm across portions of Paulding and Van Wert counties.
Iberdrola Renewables, the parent company of Heartland Wind Energy LLC, has submitted an application to the Ohio Power Sitting Board (OPSB) in connection with the project, which would produce enough electricity each year to power more than 80,000 average Ohio homes.
Known as Blue Creek Wind Farm, the project involves construction of 160 wind turbines across . . .
Tax issue next hurdle for wind farm
The question of whether or not there will be a number of wind turbines dotting the landscape of Van Wert and Paulding counties may come down to a familiar issue – taxes.
According to Dan Litchfield of Iberdrola Renewables, one of a handful of companies vying for local land rights for turbines, the tax rates could end up preventing the construction of Blue Creek Wind Farm. That project was to use approximately 160 turbines, 120 of those in Van Wert County.
So . . .
Company considers wind turbine farm
ARCADIA — A company is looking at northeastern Hancock County as a possible location for a wind turbine farm.
Property owners in Cass Township say Iberdrola, a company based in Spain with a United States operation, has contacted them about leasing land.
Company personnel did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.
Edward J. James, chairperson of the Cass Township Trustees, said nothing about a wind farm has come before the board. The trustees would have to approve the plans.
Several property owners . . .
Middleburg Heights wind turbine meets resistance
MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS — The visual study of the proposed wind turbine at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds is finished, and the Planning Commission approved the plans Wednesday.
The vote was 5 to 2, with members Anthony Crea and Carol Herman dissenting.
The county received a $1 million grant to erect the 600-kilowatt turbine, which will generate electricity for the fairgrounds, but still has to receive approval from City Council.
Planning tabled the issue at its Jan. 13 meeting until the city received the results . . .
Company considers wind turbine farm
ARCADIA — A company is looking at northeastern Hancock County as a possible location for a wind turbine farm.
Property owners in Cass Township say Iberdrola, a company based in Spain with a United States operation, has contacted them about leasing land.
Company personnel did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.
Edward J. James, chairperson of the Cass Township Trustees, said nothing about a wind farm has come before the board. The trustees would have to approve the plans.
Several property owners . . .
Ontario schools ponder wind power
ONTARIO — Ontario Local Schools is considering wind energy to save on electricity costs and promote a green alternative for the district.
Representatives of NexGen Energy of Boulder, Colo., described how the company would install and maintain two wind turbines. One would be placed behind the high school and one behind the elementary school along Shelby-Ontario Road.
Wind power could supply 10 percent of the school district’s electricity, Superintendent Daryl Hall said. A special meeting will take place at 5 p.m. March . . .
Turbine vote scheduled for March 22
URBANA — After months of debate, area residents won’t have to wait much longer to find out the state’s decision on whether wind turbines are on their way to Champaign County.
On Monday, March 22, the Ohio Power Siting board, an 11-member entity in charge of regulating utility services in the state, will vote on whether to approve the Buckeye Wind Project.
The project, proposed by Everpower Wind Holdings Inc., would build about 70 wind turbines in Goshen, Rush, Salem, Union, Urbana . . .
Another view of commercial wind turbines
A lot of interesting conversation has transpired on this thread. It is a very complex issue and can be very polarizing between individuals and within oneself. I would like to present a couple of thoughts on why some have grave concerns about wind turbines along Lake Erie (I will keep these to bird issues and stay away from the elephants in the room) and then list a couple of sites to get another take on some of the citations mentioned . . .
Undeserving wind farms
Contrary to the Feb. 14 Beacon Journal editorial ”Wind win,” Gov. Ted Strickland’s proposal to exempt wind-turbine farms from the tangible personal property tax is a poor idea for at least seven reasons.
First, the schools and local governments in the areas where the generation facilities are located would bear the brunt of the foregone tax revenue. They would otherwise collect this money.
Gov. Strickland nowhere proposes how they will be made whole for the loss. The state certainly does not have . . .
Ada zoning board approves permits for turbine construction
The Ada Zoning Board convened on Tuesday evening to hold four consecutive public hearings on the four proposed wind turbines to be constructed within the village limits. One turbine is proposed on the Ada Schools’ property, while three turbines are proposed to be built on Ohio Northern University property west of Klingler Road.
The hearings were held separately in order for the board to vote on issuing conditional use permits for each proposed turbine.
Zoning Board members Dennis Herr, Mike Hurtig, and . . .
