November 15, 2019
Action alerts, Law, Ohio

Please write a letter of support for Ohio House Bill 401 (Reineke Referendum)

Seneca Anti-Wind Union

The major provision of HB401 allows local voters in individual townships to vote on industrial wind turbine projects which have been ap-proved by the Ohio Power Siting Board for the areas in which these local voters live. Currently, there is no local vote allowed by Ohio law. There is no local control. The bill also requires the use of safety manuals to determine safe setbacks.

The opposition pushback against local control is fierce. We must let those we elect to represent our interests clearly understand that local control of wind projects by affected township voters is critically important. Affected residents must be given a vote to approve or deny a project for their town-ship.

The Energy and Natural Resources Commit-tee will hold a proponent hearing for HB401 on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 11 AM

Your letter of support can be emailed to Chairman Nino Vitale, Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and the committee clerk, Naomi del Guidice, at: Rep85@ohiohouse.gov ^[1]

Also copy Representative Bill Reineke at: Rep88@ohiohouse.gov ^[2]

Letters may be short and need not contain technical information or expert opinion. Your thoughts and opinions in your own words are best. Points to consider:

• Express your support for HB401 (Reineke Referendum) to ensure local residents a vote to allow or disallow a wind project in their township.
• Ohio zoning today prohibits building a home in an area zoned for industrial use. Conversely, a wind developer can build an industrial power plant in a residential area near a home because citizens have been robbed of the right to prohibit this industrial use in their rural community. It is time to return local control to the people.
• The balance of power between a developer and rural residents of modest means is unfair.
• The Ohio Power Siting Board does not have staff expertise to conduct independent studies for wildlife, noise, health, economic impact, safety, etc. The community is forced to accept the OPSB recommended ap-proval and lacks resources for a challenge to the “evidence.”
• The tax abatement – the PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) – is not local control. In Logan County, the Commissioners denied the PILOT but the Scioto Ridge Wind Project now includes turbines in Logan County.
• If a proposed wind project will impact you personally in a specific way, feel free to add that information.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/alerts/2019/11/15/please-write-a-letter-of-support-for-ohio-house-bill-401-reineke-referendum/

URLs in this post:

[1] Rep85@ohiohouse.gov: mailto:Rep85@ohiohouse.gov

[2] Rep88@ohiohouse.gov: mailto:Rep88@ohiohouse.gov

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