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Aviation consultant questioned in turbine case

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By Matt Sanctis, Staff Writer Updated 10:07 PM Tuesday, November 10, 2009

COLUMBUS — Attorneys closely questioned an aviation consultant Tuesday, Nov. 10, in a hearing on a proposed wind turbine project in Champaign County.

Thaddeus Brys, a consultant for Aviation Systems Inc., testified before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio in a hearing on the Buckeye Wind Project, which would build about 70 turbines throughout Champaign County.

Gil Weithman, law director for Urbana, questioned Brys on news that the Federal Aviation Administration recently reduced the number of turbines it considered a presumed hazard. Previously, it had deemed that 38 of the proposed turbines were presumed hazards to the instrument approach at Grimes and Weller Fields. However, that number was recently reduced to 16, Brys said.

Weithman questioned Brys on his role in the process. Brys, a former air traffic controller who testified on behalf of Everpower Renewables, the company proposing the project, said the FAA had mistakenly applied certain criteria incorrectly, leading to the error.

Nick Selvaggio, Champaign County prosecutor, also questioned Chris Shears on what affect the project might have on future development in the county. Selvaggio noted while the project might provide some benefits, including farmland preservation, he questioned whether some landowners not participating in the project would still be able to develop their land in the future because of required setbacks once the turbines are in place.

Shears, senior vice president of development at Everpower, said the company has considered the issue and tried to strike a balance in its application.

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