August 15, 2019
Ohio

Township disapproves of wind farm

Michael Harrington, Staff Reporter | Sandusky Register | 8/14/2019 | www.sanduskyregister.com

GROTON TWP. – If some local governments had their way, the plan to build up to 71 wind turbines in Erie and Huron counties would never come to fruition.

The decision to approve or deny Apex Clean Energy’s Emerson Creek Wind Project, however, falls to the Ohio Power Siting Board in Columbus.

But that hasn’t stopped Groton Township trustees – Ron Brown, Roger Rowland and Roger Russell – from approving a resolution making their opposition to the project known.

The trustees’ resolution was based on their belief the wind farm would not be in the best interest of the township, which is south of Castalia and north of Bellevue in Erie County.

The trustees had several meetings, where the project was discussed and Brown, the board of trustees chairman, said citizens shared their concerns about the 10 to 14 wind turbines that would be built in the community if approved.

“We supported our people who came in,” Brown said. “This is just an opinion and everyone has their own and I respect everyone’s right to them.”

The trustees have no power to stop the wind turbines from being constructed, but they filed the motion with the power siting board to let their stance be known.

Norwich Township in Huron County is another community that could have 18 to 22 turbines built in its area if the board approves Emerson Creek.

Norwich’s trustees – Richard Wiles, David Homan and Clifford Martin – recently filed for the township to be intervenors in Emerson Creek’s application process with the board.

“We as a township are allowed to be an intervenor and we have certain times to do it,” chairman Wiles said. “We filed early because we didn’t want to miss the deadline if the certificate is approved.”

As intervenors, the township could file for additional provisions to be met by Apex. When asked if the Norwich trustees were for or against the project, Wiles said they haven’t made a decision.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/08/15/township-disapproves-of-wind-farm/