July 23, 2016
Ohio

Wind farms battle continues

Zoe Greszler | Norwalk Reflector | July 22, 2016 | www.norwalkreflector.com

GREENWICH – The wind turbine battle isn’t over yet.

The Greenwich Neighbors United (GNU) has requested a rehearing of the matter that would bring in an entire farm of turbines to the village area.

“The Ohio Power Siting Board granted Greenwich Neighbors United’s application for rehearing … to allow the board more time to review the issues in the case,” said GNU chairman Kevin Ledet in a letter.

“This case was originally filed by the Windpark developer to amend the certificate that was originally granted on Nov. 16, 2015 and modified on March 22. There were a number of changes made to the proposed development which would negatively impact the property owners adjacent to the industrial-sized turbines and all members of the community.”

This is one of the main concerns of the grassroots movement group.

“The changes proposed by the foreign Windpark developer would add taller and noisier turbines than were already approved,” Ledet said. “They would run more often, and create an increase in the shadow flicker effect. In addition, they violate the minimum setback requirements that are required by law.”

“The law says you need the signatures of all property owners adjacent to the project for a waiver,” Ledet said. “They’re saying you don’t need a signature by everyone, only of those property owners immediately adjacent to an individual (turbine). There are 124 adjacent property owners (in relation to the project). Law says have to have all of them sign papers. They never came to offer is to sign the waiver.”

Ledet said the wind turbines would affect even more people though.

“There are 906 property owners within a mile of (the) wind farm. All of these people will be affected,” he said. “They put out 107 decibels of noise. That’s a lot.”

Ledet said he hopes feels they are up against more than the Windpark though.

“It’s a amazing giant machine we’re up against,” he said about what he believes.

“There’s a political machine that wants to push them (wind farms) in both parties, to cash in on them. It’s a government thing. There’s all kind of money out there through this…. And it somehow ends with big bucks in campaigning funds.

“I’m not saying we don’t have energy issue and it’s not really that I’m even against alternative energy,” Ledet said. “But this stuff has to be viable. I don’t feel this is viable in our area. Not in my backyard. The central plains is where they have the most wind. Out of seven on the gage they use to measure the amount of wind (in different places), Ohio I believe is a two.”

Their turbines are slated to stand about 490 feet high.

“I’m not mad at any of my neighbors,” he said. “They signed leases to make a few bucks. I just hope that everyone learns from this, that they think ‘my decision can have major effects on my neighbors.’”

If GNU is not satisfied with the final ruling on the application for rehearing, the next step is filing an appeal with the Ohio Supreme Court.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/07/23/wind-farms-battle-continues/