OHIO APPROVES BIG WIND

Ohio Power Siting Board approves construction of Blue Creek Wind Farm
August 23, 2010 (Ohio Siting Board)

"The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB)…approved an agreement authorizing Heartland Wind, LLC to construct the Blue Creek Wind Farm…Heartland is authorized to provide up to 350 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity and the facility, as approved, will consist of 159 wind turbines spread across 1,700 acres…

"On December 21, 2009, Heartland filed an application…[After] an investigation of Heartland’s proposal, OPSB Staff submitted a summary of its findings and recommendation to the Board on June 23, 2010…Supporters [subsequently] emphasized the potential economic benefits…Opponents voiced concerns about potential negative consequences related to noise and aesthetics as well as impacts to the environment, public health and safety and television and cellular reception."

click to enlarge

"On July 14, 2010, Heartland, OPSB Staff and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation filed an agreement resolving outstanding issues…[and recommending] approval… subject to 61 conditions intended to mitigate the ecological, environmental and social impacts of the project…[Heartland must:]…[1] Relocate or resize eight turbines…[with more] setback distance from roads and structures…[2] Implement measures to reduce shadow flicker [where needed]…[3] Mitigate…[noise where needed]…within one mile of the project area…[3] Mitigate…television reception problems…

"…[4] Install and maintain erosion and sedimentation control measures…[5] Establish a process to receive [complaints]…[6] …[Deal with] ice conditions on wind turbines and install an ice warning system…[7] …[Deal with] airspace, radar or communications [issues]…[8]…[Repair] roads and bridges [agricultural land, including field tile] following construction…[9] Decommission…"

Where Ohio jobs are. (click to enlarge)

"Heartland expects to begin construction of the wind farm in the fall of 2010. The project will also include four new electric substations, underground electric collection lines and miles of access roads, as well as meteorological and wind measurement equipment to support the facility.

"Under Ohio’s alternative energy portfolio standard, by 2025, 25 percent of electricity sold in Ohio must be generated from alternative energy sources. At least half of this energy must come from renewable energy sources, including wind, and one half of the renewable energy facilities must be located in Ohio…OPSB has [now] certificated five wind farms across the state totaling 472 turbines and up to 882.2 MW…"