PUCO staff testifies on wind turbine report

PUCO staff members answers questions on how staff repoirt was developed for power siting board

Wittenberg latest to close due to Level 2 snow emergency
Updated 20 min. ago
Girls Gone Wild coming back to Springfield
Updated 29 min. ago
Millions awarded to update area water, sewer systems
3:54 p.m.
Paid days off for county employees an issue for commissioners
1:13 p.m.
Grand jury indicts 21
12:05 p.m.
> More headlines

By Matt Sanctis, Staff Writer Updated 7:00 AM Thursday, November 19, 2009

COLUMBUS — A staff member for the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio answered questions Wednesday, Nov. 18, concerning how state officials crafted a report on the Buckeye Wind Project that will eventually be used to make recommendations on how to site the project.

Stuart Siegfried, a PUCO staff member who helped craft the staff report, said it was developed with assistance from several state agencies, as well as their own research and Everpower Renewables’ application for the project. Everpower is asking the power siting board to approve the project, which would install about 70 turbines throughout six townships in Champaign County.

However, Jane Napier, assistant Champaign County prosecutor, questioned whether consideration was given in the report to concerns several parties had about the project. PUCO staff members were required to file the report before testimony was heard in the case. Napier also questioned whether PUCO staff members had considered all the evidence in the case, as opposed to relying on evidence provided by Everpower in their application.

Siegfried said PUCO staff, as well as the state’s power siting board, will consider additional information when evaluating the proposal. However, he said he was not certain if the PUCO staff would alter the recommendations put forward in the report.

Nino Vitale, a local pilot, also testified that some of the proposed turbines could be an obstruction creating difficulty for pilots in their approach to Grimes and Weller Fields in the county.

“There’s a lot happening for a pilot at that point,” Vitale said. “It’s a critical phase of flight.”

Vitale also said he was concerned the project could affect tourism at the air field.

Attorneys representing Everpower asked if the turbines could also draw tourists to the area.

Vitale said he did not believe so because there are also other proposed wind turbine projects across the state.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

A lot of us DIDN'T vote for Obama precisely because of his feel-good policies that don't work in the real world. But these turbines are going to be bad for everyone whether we voted for Team Strickland/Obama or not.(well...maybe they won't be bad for the leaseholders who are making money off the backs of the rest of the taxpayers. Look for your industrial turbine-leasing neighbor to be taking plenty of trips to Disney World if these things go up. They'll be flush with cash.)

The Truth Hurts
11:57 AM, 11/19/2009

REPORT ABUSE

You voted for Obama and all his green stuff. Aint nothing standin in the way of progress. May as well give up the fight and make good use of your energy somewhere else. Your wind energy that is...

Lee
8:05 AM, 11/19/2009

REPORT ABUSE

PUCO. Hmmmm. Government appointees. Strickland appointees. Wind turbines at any cost Strickland apointees. Sounds fair to me. Keep up the good fight!!

NIMBY
7:39 AM, 11/19/2009

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.