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.
Townships look to give a voice to people, approve intervening of wind farm application
On Tuesday, at an emergency meeting, Adams Township approved to intervene in the application process for APEX Clean Energy’s Republic Wind Farm. If a sworn affidavit is submitted and approved by the Ohio Power Siting Board, who has to approve any wind farm application before construction can begin, the townships’ trustees will be the voice of the people in front of the state. “They’re going to say the economic impact. They’re going to say what kind of impact it’s going . . . Complete story »
Wind farm opponents, county commissioners in Champaign County seek new hearing
The Champaign County commissioners, along with a group of residents, are asking the Ohio Power Siting Board for a new hearing after a decision that allowed an extension to begin construction for a controversial wind farm. Members of the OPSB decided last month to grant an extension to start construction on two separate phases of the project after the wind farm’s developer argued ongoing lawsuits delayed the project for years. If built, the project would install about 50 wind turbines . . . Complete story »
Anti-wind group cites emails twixt Stacy, CICE
A group that opposes wind turbine projects in Seneca and surrounding counties has alleged what they called “alarming” and “concerning” correspondence between county officials and a pro-clean energy organization. According to a Seneca Anti-Wind Union release, a public records request revealed emails between Seneca County Commissioner Holly Stacy, Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corp. President and CEO David Zak and Tom Bullock of Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy. The release states the emails, which Zak was carbon copied on, . . . Complete story »
Legislators look to address halt of wind energy development
State lawmakers are working to amend 2014 legislation they believe has caused wind energy development to stall in Ohio. The state’s Mid-Biennium Budget Review, passed in 2014, nearly tripled the distance a turbine in a wind farm application was required to be from an adjacent property line. “With that law that was put in, in the middle of the night four years ago, we have put ourselves at tremendous economic disadvantage,” state Sen. Matt Dolan, R-Chagrin Falls, said. According to . . . Complete story »
Thomas: Further talk on wind turbines is a waste of energy
If there was any doubt about where Seneca County Commissioner Shayne Thomas stood on a movement to rescind an Alternative Energy Zone and thus thwart the erection of wind turbines on the east side of the county, such doubt was erased Tuesday. During a weekly meeting of the commissioners, Thomas took the wind out of the sails of those seeking the AEZ rescission. “This issue has shown much divisiveness, and I empathize with those who don’t want to look at . . . Complete story »
Safety setback
I continue to learn more about these planned industrial wind parks for our area. After the recent public information meeting by the Seneca Anti-Wind Union, I learned yet another negative aspect of these planned projects. A lot of discussion has involved setbacks. Ohio regulation currently designates a setback as the distance between the turbine and the property line. I found it very interesting that the wind company is working hard to lobby our legislative representatives to change these setbacks to . . . Complete story »
Seneca Anti-Wind Union (SAWU) meeting draws huge crowd
If one drives from Bellevue to Attica you will notice the numerous Anti-Wind for Seneca County signs in the front yards of homes. They do far out-number the Pro-Wind Energy signs. One will also be struck that most of the pro-wind signs are in areas without homes; just open fields. And on the evening of May 31st a trip to the Attica Fairgrounds was clearly a meeting for SAWU to address over 500 supporters. Before the primary speaker addressed the . . . Complete story »
Local officials divided on wind farm issue
TIFFIN, OH – Tuesday’s meeting of the Seneca County Commissioners proved once again that local officials are divided on the issue of wind energy in Seneca County. After being presented with a petition with around 1,100 signatures against wind energy in the county, Commissioner Mike Kerschner (R) presented a motion to rescind the AEZ (alternative energy zone) for Seneca County, but Commissioner Holly Stacy (R) did not second the motion, resulting in the motion’s failure. Commissioner Shayne Thomas (R) was not . . . Complete story »
Sound (and light) reasons to tilt at windmills
We interrupt this normally ground-based column to bring you a special report from the top of a wind turbine. What am I doing on a wind turbine, you ask reasonably? Is it a publicity stunt? Did I take a wrong turn somewhere? Is it just a really hot day and I want to be as close as possible to a very large fan? Before my mom starts worrying that her son is perched with his laptop hundreds of feet in . . . Complete story »
Against the wind: Wind turbine opponents bring petition signed by 1,100; one commissioner switches stance
Opponents of wind turbine projects in Seneca County presented a petition with more than 1,100 signatures to the board of commissioners Tuesday morning and gained a notable new supporter in the process. Chris Aichholz, a Bloomville resident and Seneca-Anti Wind Union member, presented the petition which he said formally asks the commissioners to rescind the alternative energy zone the county approved in 2011. He said the AEZ acts as a “welcome mat” for wind projects by making them more economically . . . Complete story »
