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

Court debate over wind turbine construction begins

Hope Ride pedals inspiration
7/31/10
Stafford: In the good-old summer
7/31/10
McGinn dunked for good... cause
7/31/10
Cottrel: When a drip turns into a renovation
7/31/10
Champaign County Senior center hopes voters renew levy
7/31/10
> More headlines

E-mail this page

By Matt Sanctis, Staff Writer Updated 8:57 AM Friday, January 22, 2010

URBANA — Initial briefs were filed this week as attorneys from several entities made their arguments on a proposed wind project that may eventually dot Champaign County with wind turbines.

Initial arguments were filed Wednesday, Jan. 20, in the case which is being reviewed by the Ohio Power Siting Board.

If approved as proposed, the Buckeye Wind Project would construct about 70 wind turbines in Goshen, Rush, Salem, Union, Urbana and Wayne Twps. in Champaign County. The proposal has drawn both support and criticism from residents in the county. In November, attorneys representing several separate entities provided testimony to the board on issues ranging from the effects of shadow flicker from the turbines to the potential impact on pilots flying into Grimes Field.

Matt Butler, a spokesman for the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, said attorneys will now have until Feb. 1 to reply to the initial briefs filed.

At that point, he said, two administrative law judges who presided over the hearings will draft their recommendations, which will be provided to the board for further review.

The board is expected to review a wide range of additional material before making their decision, including the application from Everpower Renewables, the company proposing the project. They will also review the testimony presented last year, as well as arguments from attorneys and concerns from residents.

Butler said the board’s next meeting has not yet been scheduled, but is expected to take place in March. He said a decision on the project could come as early as that meeting.

The board has flexibility in its decision, and it can approve or reject the project as a whole. It can also allow some turbines while preventing others from being built. In addition, it can place conditions on individual turbines proposed in the project.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355 or msanctis@coxohio.com.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

The Bauers are apparently going to gain at the expense of neighboring property owners. Despite the poorly and inaccurately quoted Hoen study on property values, what that study ACTUALLY shows is 5% lower values within 1 mile of any turbine, and 25% lower value for "poor" vistas (aesthetics) compared to an average vista.

Wait a couple years....there are going to be great deals on homes in the newly evolving rural ghettos that the industrial projects will trigger. Mark my words.

Mike
11:25 AM, 1/23/2010

REPORT ABUSE

The OPSB staff stated that Champaign County may require additional tax levies because of these turbines going in. Also, EverPower isn't putting up the money required to repair roads/bridges that will be damaged and they're not putting up the money required to take the turbines down when their "useful" life ends. The Bauers and a few other landowners get a bunch of money, while everybody else gets higher taxes and lower property values. Can we pass a 98% tax on the lease payments?

james
1:10 PM, 1/22/2010

REPORT ABUSE

I dont think these are an eyesore, As far as I feel about them I would let them put as many as they like on my property. Why are people so stupid to think these are noisy. Lets see here they are polution free energy unlike any other type we have here. All people want to do is cry about things just to be heard. I hope they continue to buils as many as possible.

larry
12:36 PM, 1/22/2010

REPORT ABUSE

I agree with Enrie, let the ciizens vote... i certaily dont want no 70 story tall eyesore near my house let alone let all the power go to stupid new york. What has new yourk ever done for us?

I agree
12:21 PM, 1/22/2010

REPORT ABUSE

Sorry, Enrie, but your shouting in all-caps won't move this issue toward a voters' referendum, if that's what you really want. You'll need to circulate petitions to registered voters, etc. Oh, and while you're researching that possibility, please read more background on the issue to learn that this isn't about any "court deciding this matter." Attorneys are involved and there were public hearings with extensive testimony; but to this point, it's all just advisory to state utility regulators.

Art
11:34 AM, 1/22/2010

REPORT ABUSE

There is 1 additional comment

SHOW ALL

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