September 14, 2010
Ohio

Wind turbine rules on hold

By LARRY SHIELDS | salemnews.net

PERRY TOWNSHIP – Trustees tabled a resolution setting guidelines for wind turbines in the township on Monday. They are guidelines that Greg Courtney, president of Wind Turbines of Ohio LLC, said basically outlawed the devices.

Courtney said he had just learned of the resolution earlier in the day and listed a number of concerns, noting he’s installed over 120 of the turbines. He said the five-acre minimum land requirement was excessive. He said the most use an acre and he said he wasn’t sure where that requirement came from.

Fiscal Officer Susan Johnston said the resolution was written using a model from the Ohio Township Association.

Courtney said if the resolution passes “there won’t be a wind turbine in Perry Township,” explaining to qualify for an Ohio grant it has to be 100 feet high. He said he was told by state officials not to apply for anything under 100 feet tall.

“Based on this, no tower will be built in Perry Township,” he said, adding there is a 30 percent renewable federal tax credit and residential grants available. He also took exception to a color requirement in the resolution.

Trustee Chairman Mike Halleck said, “I don’t know if I want a 100-foot tower in my neighbor’s backyard … in a residential township.” He said he wasn’t trying to put anyone out of business.

Courtney said there are federal and state incentives “and now for the township to say no, there’s a little bit of a conflict …” He said Green Township researched it and wanted to be environmentally friendly.

Courtney called the resolution “overkill” adding that “no one called me before this was written.”

Trustees later voted to table it for further study with a 3-0 vote.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/09/14/wind-turbine-rules-on-hold/