January 20, 2012
Ohio

Company continues study of wind project in Auglaize County

Bob Blake, The Lima News, www.limaohio.com 20 January 2012

BUCKLAND – A company with wind and solar-energy projects in eight countries on four continents is continuing with preliminary studies about the feasibility of a 100-megawatt wind project in parts of Auglaize County, a company official said Friday.

Mainstream Renewable Power Inc., with headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, is moving forward on various studies and discussions with landowners in portions of Duchouquet, Logan and Moulton townships, Matt Boss, the company’s development manager for the midwest region, said.

“I think we’re a good two to three years from seeing construction,” Boss said. “At this stage really we’re in the preliminary stage of determining the feasibility of this project. It’s a lot like putting together a jigsaw puzzle and at this stage we don’t really know what the complete picture is yet.”

Feasibility studies and discussions with landowners about leasing space to construct 40 to 60 turbines are expected to continue through the year, Boss said. A proposal isn’t expected to go to the Ohio Power Siting Board, which approves wind turbine projects, until at least next year, he said.

Dan Lambert, mayor of Buckland, which sits surrounded by the townships where the proposed turbines would be located, held a meeting this week so area residents could learn about the project.

“I felt the public needed to be aware of what’s going on in the townships around the town,” Lambert said. “This project is being worked on. If people have concerns, they need to talk to their neighbors. Ultimately, the landowner has the right to do whatever with their land.”

Boss said the company has been looking at Ohio for a couple years with specific focus in western Ohio in just the last year or so. Conversations with landowners have been taking place for nine or 10 months, he said.

“This is still very early in the preliminary stages,” Boss said.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/20/company-continues-study-of-wind-project-in-auglaize-county/