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.
Wind farm clears permits, concerns emerge
The proposed Salt Creek Wind Farm project in Tama County made significant steps toward becoming a reality recently. The Tama County board of adjustment met at 9 a.m. on Dec. 9 in Toledo where they considered and ultimately voted on 60 conditional use permits submitted by Salt Creek Wind LLC. The permits were seeking approval of 60 sites within a 25,000 acre footprint in central Tama County that will be used to construct wind turbines for the Salt Creek Wind . . . Complete story »
Former top Ohio utility regulator was involved with writing tainted nuclear bill, emails show
COLUMBUS, Ohio – While serving as Ohio’s top utilities regulator, former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Sam Randazzo worked to amend a controversial nuclear bailout bill to hurt renewable energy projects while helping a former client that had just lost a major court case, recently released emails show. Records released by the Ohio House last month show Randazzo in emails to House staff suggested wording revisions to an early version of House Bill 6, which now is at the center . . . Complete story »
Republic Wind transmission line hearing takes place online
Gary Baldosser of Republic gave the sole testimony during an Ohio Power Siting Board hearing Thursday evening regarding an electric transmission line for Republic Wind LLC’s proposed wind turbine project. The hearing took place via Webex online meeting service and was streamed on the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio YouTube channel. If approved, Republic Wind would build 47 wind turbines – at last report – to generate electricity in the Seneca County townships of Adams, Reed, Scipio and Thompson as well as . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines may still have a future in Ohio, but for now the emphasis is on solar power
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Advocates believe renewable energy in Ohio and across the United States should get a boost when President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January given his expressed desire to make America’s energy sector carbon-free by 2035. Yet most of the development of wind and solar farms is driven by what’s going on at the state level, and in Ohio the political climate for renewable energy has not been welcoming. The controversial House Bill 6 reduces and eventually eliminates . . . Complete story »
Republic Wind turbine project reaches 3-year mark
It was three years ago today that the Ohio Power Siting Board opened a file for Republic Wind LLC, a commercial wind turbine project for generating electricity, at the request of Apex Clean Energy of Charlottesville, Virginia. The case is still pending after the main adjudicatory hearing – or the legal hearing – took place a year ago, and the public hearing took place in September 2019. If approved, Republic Wind would build 47 wind turbines – at last report – to generate electricity . . . Complete story »
Cities pass all-renewable plans: A grid threat?
Ballot initiatives that empower cities to seek all-renewable electricity were approved by voters in Ohio and New Jersey last week, marking the spread of a popular idea that has also raised concerns about the impact on the grid. The approved measures will establish new community choice aggregation (CCA) programs in the cities of Columbus, Ohio, and East Brunswick, N.J. Those programs give municipal officials authority to take the lead in contracting with suppliers of wind and solar energy, with the . . . Complete story »
OPSB sets Jan. 7 virtual hearing for Republic Wind Transmission Line
COLUMBUS – The Ohio Power Siting Board has scheduled a public hearing for 6 p.m. Jan. 7 regarding Republic Wind LLC’s proposal to construct an electric transmission line in Seneca County, according to an OPSB news release. The hearing is to be conducted using Cisco Webex, a web-based platform that facilitates participation by telephone or live video on the internet. The Republic Wind Transmission Line would consist of a 7.4-mile long 138 kilovolt electric transmission line and point of interconnect switchyard . . . Complete story »
An offshore wind farm on Lake Erie moves closer to reality, but will it ever be built?
Icebreaker would be the first freshwater wind farm in North America. But after more than a decade, it is still jumping hurdles and polarizing environmental groups. On the rare clear day, the wind farm’s turbines would stand offshore, resembling six matchsticks on the horizon. If it is finally built off the coast of Cleveland, eight miles out in the shallow waters of Lake Erie, Icebreaker Wind would be the first freshwater offshore wind farm in North America. But the project, . . . Complete story »
Icebreaker offshore wind project faces more obstacles
Lake Erie Energy Development Corp.’s efforts to put wind turbines like this one offshore of Cleveland suffered yet another setback in court on Oct. 20. Just two weeks after overcoming a major state regulatory hurdle, a federal judge in the District of Columbia levied yet another setback for a plan by the Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. (LEEDCo) to build the region’s first offshore wind farm on Lake Erie. A U.S. District Judge on Tuesday, Oct. 20, ruled in favor . . . Complete story »
OPSB removes modified turbine feathering requirement from Icebreaker project
The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) has formally adopted an oral motion – that was unanimously approved – which removes a requirement that Icebreaker Windpower Inc. must completely feather wind turbines, stopping them from rotating, during nighttime hours from March 1 through Nov. 1. The board order on rehearing grants in part, and denies, in part, the application for rehearing filed in this proceeding by Icebreaker and denies applications for rehearing filed by other parties to the case. If constructed, . . . Complete story »
