January 23, 2014
Ohio

Coleman: Wind application fails to address Logan County roads

Created on Wednesday, 22 January 2014 | Written by REUBEN MEES | Bellefontaine Examiner | www.examiner.org

A letter filed by Logan County Engineer Scott Coleman with the Ohio Power Siting Board says that wind developer Everpower neglected to address Logan County roads in its original application.

“It appears that the transportation study submitted to the Ohio Power Siting Board failed to address Logan County roads. However, several Logan County roads are being used according to the mapping included in the application,” Mr. Coleman wrote in the letter dated Tuesday.

“The Logan County Engineer’s Office will require that a transportation impact report be prepared by an Ohio Registered Professional Engineer and be submitted to this office for review and approval. This report shall cover all county and township roads, bridges and culverts that will be impacted by any vehicles generated by this development including legal loads and overweight/oversize loads.”

Everpower has submitted a plan for the Scioto Ridge Wind Farm to the power siting board to install up to 176 wind turbines in northern Logan and southern Hardin counties.

Mr. Coleman recommends that the siting board, which has a formal hearing on the project today in Columbus, requires Everpower to comply with several conditions regarding use of Logan County roads.

The letter says the company will be required, prior to construction, to improve any road that does not meet 120 percent of the capacity of the expected loads for transporting the massive turbine tower sections and blades through Logan County. If the recommendations are approved by the siting board, any damages to roads will have to be fixed by the company within 48 hours of the damage and a surety bond will be required in advance of the work.

The letter also says that Everpower must work with the county engineer’s office on issues regarding stormwater runoff from the turbine sites, driveway access points to county and township roads and rights-of-way concerns where transmission lines cross public roads.

Mr. Daggger said the application under consideration is a working document that will undergo changes as project specifics such as turbine sizes become final.

“What we submitted is a desktop analysis of the project,” he said. “The final road use maintenance agreement will require a host of details that will be used in the final transportation plan. We have met with the engineers of both counties and have an open line of communication.

“The loads and weights will not be determined until we select the turbines we will use.”

Although the power siting board is hearing the case today, it will likely take several months before a decision on the permit is issued, which could incorporate Mr. Coleman’s recommendations.