Wind Power News: Ohio
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Champaign County wind farm project tabled
The developer of a proposed wind farm in Champaign County no longer has the certificates needed to build the project. Attorneys representing the Buckeye Wind LLC and Champaign Wind LLC projects asked the Ohio Power Sitting Board to relinquish certificates that were approved for those projects nearly a decade ago. They also asked to withdraw any pending amendments filed since then. “From our standpoint, the cases are all closed now and the company no longer has the certificates to construct . . . Complete story »
sPower refiles Seneca Wind project
sPower refiled its Seneca Wind 212-megawatt wind turbine project this week with the Ohio Power Siting Board and announced a pre-application public meeting 3-6 p.m. Oct. 23 at Attica Fairgrounds. In a pre-application notification letter to OPSB Monday, the company outlined a plan similar to the project sPower withdrew in August. According to the letter, turbines would have a total generating capacity of up to 212 megawatts. The filing said the project would be built on about 25,000 acres of . . . Complete story »
Commissioners pen letter on wind policy
Seneca County Board of Commissioners agreed to send letters related to wind policy to state legislators in Columbus and to the Ohio Development Services Agency Thursday morning. The first letter, drafted by Commissioner Shayne Thomas, outlines the commissioners’ stance related to industrial wind turbine projects in the county and provides recommendations to state lawmakers moving forward. The draft states, “In Seneca County, we have had significant public discourse around the development of wind resources and utility-scale wind farms. We have . . . Complete story »
Conneaut windmills still idle as court case drags on
CONNEAUT – In 2010, the city of Conneaut and the school district took a step toward renewable energy and wind turbines were constructed next to the wastewater treatment plant and the middle school. The turbines came online in 2010, and were expected to provide power for Conneaut Middle School and Conneaut’s wastewater treatment plant. The turbine at the wastewater treatment plant was struck by lightning in 2017 and has been idle ever since. The city sued NexGen Energy Partners, LLC, and . . . Complete story »
Judge rules Seneca Wind may use properties for pre-construction purposes
A judge has ruled a company that had proposed to develop a wind farm in Seneca County is allowed to use premises for pre-construction purposes, according to Seneca County Clerk of Courts records. Judge Robert Pollex, who previously served in Wood County Common Pleas Court, issued his ruling in favor of Seneca Wind LLC, which had proposed to develop a wind farm of up to 212 megawatts in Seneca County’s Scipio, Reed, Venice, Eden and Bloom townships. Seneca Wind had . . . Complete story »
Republic Wind Farm opponents cite safety concerns at hearing
TIFFIN – Opponents of APEX Clean Energy’s Republic Wind Farm project showed up in droves Thursday to an Ohio Power Siting Board hearing, running through a long list of concerns attached to the proposed wind turbines. The turbines’ potential impacts on karst deposits and groundwater, plus the structures’ threats to migratory birds and bats, were noted in the testimony of several residents who live either within Republic Wind Farm’s proposed footprint or within sight of the turbines. “At the heart . . . Complete story »
OPSB hears local testimony about proposed Republic Wind project
A public hearing at Tiffin University’s Marion Center was hosted by the Ohio Power Siting Board Thursday afternoon to hear public testimony from area citizens about Republic Wind LLC’s application to develop a 200-megawatt wind turbine farm in Seneca and Sandusky counties. The wind farm would be made up of 47 turbines placed in Adams, Pleasant, Reed, Scipio and Thompson townships in Seneca County and York Township in Sandusky County. OPSB staff conducted an investigation of the proposed wind farm . . . Complete story »
Planned Lake Erie wind farm back on track after fee paid
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The review process has resumed for a planned Lake Erie wind farm after the non-profit developer behind the project paid an outstanding bill from state regulators on Thursday. Officials with the Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation filed a document saying they’d paid $150,000 to the Ohio Power Siting Board, the state agency responsible for reviewing and approving wind-turbine projects. Agency review for the project, referred to by LEEDCo as “Icebreaker,” was frozen last week after the Aug. 12 . . . Complete story »
Buckeye Wind project is dead, for now
Buckeye Wind has notified the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) of “relinquishment and withdrawal” of certificates to construct as many as 50 utility-scale wind turbines in an area that rests primarily north of U.S. Route 36. The company is also withdrawing its application to amend the certificates. “Buckeye Wind LLC and Champaign Wind LLC have relinquished the Certificates of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need issued for the Buckeye Wind project as construction activities have not commenced as required under the . . . Complete story »
Buckeye Wind Blows Away
After nearly thirteen years, EverPower and its successor, Innogy, has surrendered its certificates for the Champaign Wind and Buckeye Wind projects in Champaign County Ohio. A copy of the official relinquishment is attached. There will likely be a report in the Urbana Daily Citizen tomorrow and we will make it available to you. Steadfast community resistance can be a long and often thankless endeavor. We are grateful to those who go the distance, exhausted by the journey which seems to . . . Complete story »
