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Wind power project moves forward

Hearings set on plans to build more than 70 turbines

Photos: Project to bring wind power

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By Matt Sanctis, Staff Writer Updated 1:02 AM Sunday, September 6, 2009

URBANA — A major project that would dot Champaign County’s landscape with wind turbines is moving slowly forward, with public hearings on the proposed sites scheduled for late October.

The Buckeye Wind Project is undergoing a review process by the Ohio Power Siting Board. It would include building more than 70 wind turbines across six townships in Champaign County. The project is proposed by Buckeye Wind LLC, a subsidiary of Everpower Renewables, a New York-based developer of utility grade wind projects.

Shana Eiselstein, a spokeswoman for the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, said hearings to gather information about the project are scheduled for late October.

An adjudicatory hearing will be held at the PUCO offices in Columbus on Oct. 27, when evidence and testimony about the project will be submitted to the Ohio Power Siting Board. The board also will be able to cross-examine witnesses and ask questions about the project.

In addition, a local public hearing is scheduled Oct. 28 at Triad High School, 8099 Brush Lake Road in North Lewisburg.

Michael Speerschneider, a spokesman for Everpower, said the hearing will let members of the OPSB get a feel for the public’s perception of the project.

The comments presented at the hearing will be included in the decision-making process for the power siting board. “It’s an opportunity for members of the public or anyone involved in the project to voice their opinions,” Speerschneider said.

If approved, Speerschneider said construction on the turbines could start next year.

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

Inside

» Some say wind power will provide long-term benefits Article on D2

»Detailed map of where the turbines would be placed Graphic on D3

SpringfieldNewsSun.com

»See a photo gallery of what turbines might look like on the local landscape

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During our summer vacation we drove through IL, WI, MN & MT. What I saw: the turbines were not moving on one windy day(not sure why) they looked broke and when I did see them moving in another location they were ominous and made the area around them look like a industrial pit - they are in big groups. MT seemed to have them out in nowhere land and it looked better, if you can say that about tall awkward metal giants. The oil rigs in ND were small and productive making and economic boom there.

Sharon
7:22 PM, 9/8/2009

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I'm with you George and Jenny. I'm in Montgomery Co and would love to start seeing windmills around the area. I have 3 acres in the country and would have one in a hot minute if I knew that was enough room and the cost wasn't prohibitive.

Jamie
7:45 PM, 9/7/2009

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Oil was found in Williston Basin in 1950. It reached peek production in 1980. In 2000 a new horizonal drilling technique was used that increased production somewhat. This oilis neither easily accessable or as abundant as you are claiming.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakken...#cite_note-2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willis...

fattrak
2:09 PM, 9/7/2009

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To Reality~Your Reality is NON Reality. Hidden 1,000 feet beneath the surface of the Rocky Mountains lies the largest untapped oil reserve in the world. It is more than 2 TRILLION barrels. It's a formation known as the Williston Basin , but is more commonly referred to as the 'Bakken.' And it stretches from Northern Montana, through North Dakota and into Canada . Get A Life..and quit ******* in the wind..!!

Pissing in the Wind
10:14 AM, 9/7/2009

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How much room does it take fot a turbine? How close to each other can thay be? I have a small farm, and I'm interested, but don't know who to contact? Hope some one will contact me!

George Miller
7:53 PM, 9/6/2009

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