The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Wind project’s benefits, drawbacks debated

State hearing continues on a proposal to put 70 turbines in Champaign County.

Ferguson attempts suicide after being found guilty on all 32 counts
11/21/09
Neighbors still trying  to recover from fatal fire
11/20/09
Churches want end to ‘shooting and killing’
11/20/09
Gun turn-in will include some questions
11/20/09
State jobless rate jumps to 10.5 percent
11/20/09
> More headlines

By Matt Sanctis, Staff Writer 1:36 AM Sunday, November 15, 2009

COLUMBUS — Witnesses began testimony this week on a proposal that could soon dot Champaign County with large wind turbines.

Throughout the week, Everpower Renewables, the New York company proposing the Buckeye wind project, provided witnesses who testified before the Ohio Power Siting Board on everything from the potential effect of the turbines on Grimes and Weller Fields to what effects, if any, shadow flicker has on human health.

Testimony is expected to continue into this week, and intervening parties are also expected to call their own witnesses. Those who have filed as intervenors in the case include the county and Urbana, representatives from Union Neighbors United, and the Urbana Country Club, among others.

At stake is a proposal that would build the largest field of electricity-generating wind turbines in the state.

Those in favor of the project point out that it will generate electricity from a clean resource and provide local taxes.

Opponents raised numerous questions about the effect of the moving blades — their sounds, shadows and appearance — on residents who live and work near them.

Chris Shears, senior vice president of development for Everpower, testified that the energy generated by the turbines will be added to the grid and sold on the open market to power companies.

However, Shears said the energy produced by the turbines will likely stay in Ohio.

That would likely help the state meet a goal to develop more renewable energy. He also noted that demand for electricity in the state is increasing, making it more likely that the energy created will stay in the state.

The Buckeye Wind Project, if approved, would spread about 70 turbines throughout six townships in Champaign County.

The Buckeye Wind Project has been a topic of concern in the county for more than a year, and the testimony is part of a review process required by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

One thing I keep coming back to it the rights of the people that will have to live with it directly and how their lives will be affected. I doubt that the people who are signing these contracts to have the turbines put on their property would be in favor of their neighbors doing something on their property that would lower their property values, especially if they were getting ready to retire and needed the money to supplement that retirement.Maybe the company can also pay the neighbors also.

Jim
8:41 AM, 11/17/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Dear Ohioans,
Let's crank up the NIMBY a little louder, so we make sure all remaining industry and jobs go elsewhere.

Grant
10:44 AM, 11/16/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Many of the 492ft wind turbines will be placed too close to airports and will negatively impact the safe operation of pilots at these airports. Let’s hope the slogan on the Ohio tags will not have to be changed from “Birthplace of Aviation” to “Graveyard of Aviation”

Rick
8:49 PM, 11/15/2009

REPORT ABUSE

I understand that residents near the wind turbines would rather them be somewhere else, but I can think of a few things that would be worse: coal power plant, nuclear power plant, natural gas pipeline, oil well or even a busy road. So look at the bright side.

Reno
10:37 AM, 11/15/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Thanks for your coverage, both in Dayton and in Springfield, of this project. I've lived in the Dayton area most of my life and still do, but I've been researching (and fighting) wind turbines in Ontario for several years. For all those who live within a mile of the project, please get a good physical now, just in case you have health problems once it goes online - and there's no stopping it now, the hearings are just for show. The reports we are getting are truly heart-breaking.

wgulden
9:34 AM, 11/15/2009

REPORT ABUSE

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.