SpringfieldNewsSun.com

Wind energy projects headed for Champaign and Logan counties will get up to $3 million in grant awards to move forward with production, Gov. Ted Strickland announced Thursday.

EverPower Renewables, a New-York-based developer of wind energy products, was awarded the funding for the multimillion dollar Buckeye Wind project that will run through both counties.

The project, which slates wind turbines to be constructed through Union and Wayne townships, is estimated to generate enough electricity to meet the needs of about 30,000 homes, according to Strickland's office.

"The production incentive grant is something that represents an investment in the future and will pay dividends well into the future," EverPower Vice President Kevin Sheen said.

Strickland also awarded a grant for up to $2 million to Cleveland-based JW Great Lakes Wind's wind farm project in Wood County.

The funding is part of the Ohio Wind Production and Manufacturing Incentive Program through the state Department of Development's energy office.

EverPower does not have information yet on the number of wind turbines or specific sites on which they will be located in the Buckeye project, but already has begun testing wind production and environmental factors that will affect turbine placement, Sheen said.

Strickland's announcement stated the wind farms will be operational by June 30, 2009, which Sheen said was a realistic goal for the company.

Diane McConnell, a Union Twp. resident and member of Union Neighbors United — a group of residents concerned about the local turbine production — said the lack of information that affected residents have received is her biggest worry.

"Our concern is that we've never been let in on the giant scheme of things," she said, later adding, "We have concerns with the governor pushing this without regulated setbacks (from homes) and knowledge of where these things will be and how many of them there will be."

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0226 or nmorales@coxohio.com