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 are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Wind farm opponents to meet Tuesday in Tiffin
As Apex Wind Energy works to complete the Republic wind farm in Seneca and Sandusky counties, a group that opposes the project scheduled a new meeting. Seneca Anti Wind Union will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Camden Falls Reception and Conference Center, 2460 Ohio 231 in Tiffin. The Republic Wind project would consist of about 80 wind turbines in northern Seneca County and southern Sandusky County, in an area between Bellevue and Tiffin, according to the project’s website. . . . Complete story »
Conneaut files suit over broken wind turbine
CONNEAUT – The city of Conneaut has prepared a complaint to be filed in Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court aimed at a long-damaged wind turbine at the city’s lakefront. In a copy of the complaint obtained by the Star Beacon, the city is asking that defendants either repair or dismantle the towering turbine, perched next to the municipal sewage treatment plant on the edge of Lake Erie, in the next 60 days. The city is also seeking the right to repair . . . Complete story »
Unintended consequences
I attended the Seneca County commissioner’s meeting Tuesday and read the following statement: I am really disappointed to see the commissioners continue to ignore how devastating the wind turbine debate has been in our rural communities. The debate has turned neighbor against neighbor, friend against friend and even has come between family members. The debate is heartbreaking and is ripping out the hearts of our citizens. You continue to keep the AEZ (alternative energy zone) in place that will only . . . Complete story »
Gadfly on wind
Recently, TiffinOhio.net posted a story on a hit piece written by a top-level pro-industry group. It attacked a non-politician local citizen for his work in pointing out to our county commissioners the reasons why the proposed wind projects are not a good fit for Seneca County. Somehow the writer of the piece (who is in the Washington, D.C., area) seems to think he knows what is best for our county from a place that is 400 miles away in distance . . . Complete story »
The high cost of being a ‘Good Neighbor’ to Big Wind
As representatives from “Big Wind” companies in our area go door to door, consider the following before signing a lease on the hood of your car. • “Good Neighbor Agreement” is a wind lease which allows the developer to place the turbines closer to occupied structures and property lines than current Ohio regulation allows. Typically, the GNA will pay a leaseholder $500 per year after the project is operational. The lease is permanent, whether the turbines are installed or not. . . . Complete story »
Local, state candidates stump
Wind and Ohio Issue 1 dominated the annual Issues and Candidates Night Wednesday at Tiffin Middle School, featuring candidates for local and state offices. Election Day is Nov. 6 and early voting started Wednesday. Seneca County commissioner Seneca County Commissioner Mike Kerschner is running for his second term. “I feel we have made great progress towards our strategic plan,” said Kerschner, a Republican. The strategic plan, according to Kerschner, focuses on buildings, roads, infrastructure and technology. Democratic candidate Cheryl Radin-Norman . . . Complete story »
What is next and what can I do?
If you have been following the highly contentious wind turbine projects, you will know there is so much happening at such a rapid rate that it is nearly impossible to keep up with the statuses of both of the proposed projects in Seneca County. I have had people tell me that they are voting “no” on the wind turbine projects on the November ballot because they are against them. Unfortunately, there is no such vote. I have had people ask . . . Complete story »
Conneaut could file lawsuit over wind turbine
CONNEAUT – The city of Conneaut is moving closer to filing a lawsuit regarding a lightning-damaged wind turbine overlooking Lake Erie. Legal action may be imminent, Conneaut City Manager James Hockaday said at a recent City Council meeting. A year-long contractual window given the turbine’s owner to make repairs expired in August, clearing the way for the city to pursue a remedy in the courts. “We’re in the process of making that filing,” Hockaday told council. Conneaut Law Director Kyle Smith . . . Complete story »
LEEDCo wind farm won’t harm environment: DOE rules
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Energy this week ruled that the proposed wind farm project in Lake Erie will have no significant impact on the environment. The ruling, following a two-year review mandated by federal law, means the federal agency’s funding arm can continue to support the Lake Erie Energy Development Co.’s proposal to build a six-turbine wind farm 8 to 10 miles offshore. “We are pleased that that U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, . . . Complete story »
sPower go home
I attended a Seneca County commissioners meeting last week and it felt like we were being invaded by sPower. At least four good-sized men sat in the back and said not a word but made a very intimidating statement just by their presence. With all the bad publicity that sPower has been receiving in this area, what kind of a statement are they trying to make now? Over the past months, sPower intimidated leaseholders by using legal loopholes to not . . . Complete story »
