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Deal reached on wind farm near Indian Lake
Credit: Neighbor group, EverPower compromise on number of turbines, distance from water | By Katherine Collins, Staff Writer | Springfield News-Sun | Jan. 16, 2016 | www.springfieldnewssun.com ~~
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A controversial wind project in Logan County is moving forward.
EverPower, a wind energy company, has reached an agreement with community members to build a wind farm near Indian Lake.
The company proposed the turbines in 2013, and its plan was met by concerns from the community.
“We didn’t want them ruining the aesthetics of a beautiful place,” said Don Eggenschwiller, leader of Logan Hardin Neighbors United.
The turbines were originally proposed to be built about a quarter of a mile from Indian Lake, he said.
“They would’ve had an impact on our tourism business,” Eggenschwiller said. “You came here to get away from the city sights and sounds, and that’s what we didn’t want to add to it.”
Property owners also worried the value of their home would be hurt by the turbines.
Negotiations between community members and EverPower took place throughout the fall, EverPower Project Manager Jason Dagger said.
“We were able to reduce some of the numbers of turbines and place them away from the view-shed of the lake,” he said.
The agreement reduces the number of turbines to be built by 65, Dagger said, allowing approximately 107 turbines. Turbines will also be built more than 2.5 miles from Indian Lake, he said.
Not everyone in the community is happy with the deal, Eggenschwiller said.
“There are many who want them abolished all over the world,” he said. “But we couldn’t impact that.”
“We did the best that we could with the cards that were on the table,” he said.
The agreement will keep Indian Lake beautiful, he said.
The farm will produce about 225 megawatts of energy when it is complete, Dagger said.
“The Scioto Ridge Wind Farm will be able to generate clean renewable energy that will go back into the grid to be utilized not only locally but could be for a larger use,” Dagger said.
When fully operating, he said, the farm should bring in about $1.5 million in tax revenue each year for Logan and Hardin counties.
Construction on the project is expected to begin at the end of the year. About 150 temporary jobs will be created for construction, Dagger said, and about a dozen jobs will be permanent.
Everpower is also working to develop a wind farm in Champaign County in two separate phases, but that project is still tied up in a legal battle with opponents. County officials and members of Union Neighbors United, a group opposed to the project, raised concerns before the Ohio Supreme Court last month. A decision in that case isn’t expected for several months.
If approved, the Champaign County project would build more than 100 turbines across several townships.
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