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.
Time makes turbines stand still; wind machines are aging, hard to fix
Area residents may have noticed that some of the city of Bowling Green’s iconic wind turbines, located near the Wood County Landfill, haven’t been turning as frequently as in the past. It’s just a part of the devices showing their age, said Brian O’Connell, the city’s public infrastructure bureau director. O’Connell said that the turbines, which have a 20-year life expectancy, were installed about 18 years ago, and they break down somewhat more frequently than they did in the past. . . . Complete story »
Giving our community a voice on wind and solar projects
Northwest Ohio is truly a wonderful place to live. Our part of the state is home to some of the best small businesses, great school districts, and dedicated communities. Each and every day, I am honored to serve as the 82nd Ohio House District State Representative. Our region is also home to the most wind development in the state. While some communities may embrace the development of renewable energy projects, other communities do not want these types of projects in . . . Complete story »
Crawford County residents tell commissioners they don’t want wind farm
BUCYRUS – Potential wind and solar farms are not wanted in Crawford County was the message a dozen residents had Thursday for commissioners Doug Weisenauer, Tim Ley and Larry Schmidt. During the meeting, the commissioners made clear they had no idea yet what they were going to do about the impending Honey Creek Wind Farm, owned by Apex Clean Energy. That company could file a permit this year to build 75 wind turbines that will each be as tall as . . . Complete story »
‘Cross The Line’: Controversial transmission line in Iowa trying to survive
A case study for the national renewable energy debate is happening right now in northeast Iowa. “I think everybody likes the idea of renewable energy. I certainly do. But there’s more to it than just the wind blows on turbines and makes power,” Mike Deutmeyer said, a dairy farmer in the right of way of the Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line. The Cardinal-Hickory Creek Transmission Line plans to go from the Hickory Creek Substation in rural Dubuque County, to the Cardinal . . . Complete story »
Gov. Mike DeWine signs bill adding local input, additional hurdle for wind and solar projects in Ohio
Wind and solar companies hoping to do business in Ohio will face an additional hurdle in the process under a bill Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law Monday. Under Senate Bill 52, county commissioners could reject particular wind turbines or solar farms, ban the projects entirely or carve out portions of the county where those facilities couldn’t be built. The change, which takes effect in 90 days, adds a step for solar and wind companies that their coal and natural . . . Complete story »
Wind, solar bill signed into law
COLUMBUS – A solar/wind location bill introduced by two area state legislators was signed into law Monday afternoon by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. Senate Bill 52 (SB 52), introduced by 1st District Sen. Rob McColley of Napoleon, was passed by the Ohio General Assembly on June 29. House Bill 118, introduced by 82nd House District Rep. Craig Riedel of Defiance, had been merged into SB 52. The legislation will go into effect on Oct. 10 – 90 days after the governor’s signature – . . . Complete story »
Gov. DeWine signs Senate Bill 52 giving counties control over large wind and solar projects
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 52 into law on Monday giving elected county officials the authority to block development of large-scale wind and solar farms. The new legislation was signed with little fanfare and no statement from the governor other than an explanation of what the bill does. No Democrats in the House or Senate voted for the bill, while 10 Republicans in the House and 10 in the Senate opposed it. Critics say the . . . Complete story »
Counties given veto over wind, solar projects
COLUMBUS – Gov. Mike DeWine on Monday signed into law a controversial bill singling out large-scale wind and solar projects from other forms of energy in giving local county commissioners veto power over the siting of turbines and panels. Senate Bill 52 will take effect in mid-October and will affect projects that don’t already have applications that are deemed complete before the Ohio Power Siting Board. It requires developers of proposed solar or wind project of 50 or more megawatts of . . . Complete story »
Republican-led effort singles out wind and solar power for local control
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Republican lawmakers in Columbus have repeatedly made things easier for energy interests in the state, and that includes blocking local control over where oil and gas wells can go. Now Gov. Mike DeWine is being asked to sign a bill that takes an opposite approach. It provides local control over matters of power production, but only where they involve proposed large-scale wind and solar farms. The dichotomy is not lost on Democrats in the legislature and a . . . Complete story »
Seneca County case sets Ohio’s wind energy debate on new path
The longstanding debate over how much society is willing to sacrifice private property rights in order to erect mammoth, commercial-scale wind turbines has been energized – perhaps even electrified, if you will – by the Ohio Power Siting Board. In a surprise move, the OPSB unanimously agreed on June 24 that it will not allow the proposed 47-turbine Republic Wind Farm to be built in Seneca County. It’s a surprise move not because there was fierce opposition – which there was – but because . . . Complete story »
