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.
Ohio Supreme Court to hear arguments over state certificate to allow Icebreaker wind project on Lake Erie
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two Bratenahl residents are scheduled to argue before the Ohio Supreme Court next week that a state board should not have granted a certificate that will allow construction of the Icebreaker wind project on Lake Erie. On Dec. 7, the Ohio Supreme Court will hear an appeal from W. Susan Dempsey and Robert M. Maloney against the Ohio Power Siting Board, the panel that reviews wind generation proposals and, when it deems appropriate under state law, provides . . . Complete story »
Local rep opposes Icebreaker project
HURON – Green energy proponents are trying to save a stalled effort to build a wind farm in Lake Erie near Cleveland. And they apparently won’t get any help from state Rep. D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron. Swearingen says he is “vehemently” opposed to providing state money to save the pilot project to build six wind turbines. He said he’ll fight any effort to fund it in the Ohio House. The proposed Icebreaker wind project was supposed to build six wind turbines eight . . . Complete story »
Comms restrict county from future wind and solar projects
On Tuesday morning, the Seneca County Commissioners passed a motion to restrict all unincorporated areas of the county from the development of any economically significant wind farms, large wind farms or large solar facilities. Senate Bill 52 was introduced by State Senator and Tiffin native Bill Reineke and became law in October. The bill gives county commissioners across Ohio the authority to completely prohibit all major clean energy projects that generate 50 megawatts or more of electricity from some parts . . . Complete story »
Lake Erie offshore windmill pilot project in jeopardy amid scandal fallout
Despite approval from a multitude of oversight agencies, a pilot offshore windmill project on Lake Erie is facing some strong headwinds the next few months amid the fallout of Ohio’s ongoing energy scandal. In the summer of 2009 – with the backing if the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga and Lorain counties, the Cleveland Foundation and other influential public and private agencies – the Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo) was formally started. The purpose was simple and basic: With energy production changing . . . Complete story »
Wind farm update: Honey Creek project now 300 MW, limited to Crawford County
OCEOLA – The company working to develop the Honey Creek Wind Farm now expects to file its permit application with the Ohio Power Siting Board for a 300-megawatt project in the middle of 2022, a spokeswoman said. Previously, company officials had said they hoped to reach that stage by the end of this year. During a “Conversations on Wind” meeting Wednesday night at the Tod Township House, Carmen O’Keefe, development manager for the project for Apex Clean Energy, explained the company’s . . . Complete story »
Icebreaker wind project proposed for Lake Erie needs to find more financing soon
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Proponents of the Icebreaker wind project proposed for Lake Erie are working diligently to find the rest of the money necessary to bring the project to fruition. Advocates have been talking with state legislators and others in Columbus to see if they can help with the long-delayed project, which calls for construction of six wind turbines in the lake eight to 10 miles off Cleveland. Complete story »
Delaware County Commission working on local solar, wind restrictions
This week the Delaware County Commission got the ball rolling on local provisions for regulating commercial solar and wind facilities. That authority stems from Senate Bill 52, which took effect Monday. The measure gives county commissions the opportunity to insert themselves in the state regulatory process by barring development of solar and wind projects on unincorporated county land. Commissioners insist their effort is not meant to stifle renewable energy development, but all three members seem inclined to establish a restricted . . . Complete story »
Medina County prepares to act on new renewable energy authority
MEDINA – New local authority to restrict solar and wind energy projects could soon be acted on by Medina County commissioners. Ohio Senate Bill 52, which went into effect Monday, allows county commissioners to establish restricted areas where large-scale renewable projects cannot take place. The authority only applies to unincorporated township land and not cities or villages. Renewable energy work already underway has been grandfathered in and won’t be limited in accordance with SB 52, according to legislators. Medina County Commissioner . . . Complete story »
Delaware County officials not eager to embrace solar power, acting to restrict projects
A new state law that took effect Monday gives local government the upper hand in controlling solar and wind energy projects, and Delaware County commissioners wasted no time in supporting the measure Senate Bill 52 enables counties to set up restricted areas within their unincorporated boundaries where wind and solar projects greater than 50 megawatts would be prohibited. Commissioners Jeff Benton, Barb Lewis and Gary Merrell – all of them Republicans —each support the law. They instructed the county’s legal adviser . . . Complete story »
Commissioners hear wind project concerns
Adrian Whetstone formed the Auglaize County Townships United organization to present a united front in opposition to a proposed wind energy project. She brought those concerns to the Auglaize County commissioners Thursday. The proposed Moonwalk Energy project involves the construction of 50 wind turbines across 10,000 acres in Clay, Goshen, Union, Wayne and Pusheta townships. “The lack of transparency (from) Liberty Power to the community as a whole has caused frustrations to others and I,” Whetstone said. She said their . . . Complete story »
