Sun Sep 05 2010
By JARED ORZOLEK
HAVILAND -- A global renewable energy company is moving closer toward construction of a 350 megawatt wind farm across portions of Paulding and Van Wert counties.
Iberdrola Renewables, the parent company of Heartland Wind Energy LLC, has submitted an application to the Ohio Power Sitting Board (OPSB) in connection with the project, which would produce enough electricity each year to power more than 80,000 average Ohio homes.
Known as Blue Creek Wind Farm, the project involves construction of 160 wind turbines across 17,000 acres of land leased from area farmers, according to business developer Dan Litchfield.
"Wind energy has always been a part of farming and agriculture," Litchfield said. "The wind is good here and the transmission capacity is here."
The project covers ground in Tully, Union and Hoaglin townships in Van Wert County and Benton, Blue Creek and Latty townships in Paulding County. It is located in close proximity to a high-capacity transmission power line owned by American Electric Power-Ohio, which provides an outlet to the power grid for generated electricity.
"The average footprint for each tower and access road on a project recently constructed in Illinois is three quarters of an acre," Litchfield said. "Less than 1 percent of the farm ground will be taken out of production in exchange for a significant payment."
Only two obstacles remain that could prevent the project from moving forward, according to Litchfield. These involve the pending application before the OPSB and the establishment of tax-related incentives needed to make the project economically feasible.
"These would make the area more competitive with other Midwestern states," Litchfield said.
Incentives could be accomplished with approval of tax abatements in the various political subdivisions that encompass the project's geography or through a bill moving through the Ohio state legislature that would set up taxing standards for wind farms, according to Litchfield.
"If we get the permit and we get the tax situation fixed, it's very likely we are going to build this project," Litchfield said.
He explained that construction could begin at the end of this year and electricity could come online as soon as 2011.
The proposed turbines, which cost nearly $4 million each, stand at 328 feet tall at the hub height. The units are nearly 80 feet taller than similar turbines Iberdrola recently constructed in Illinois.
"That extra height makes that turbine more productive -- more expensive to build, but you end up with more production," Litchfield said.
The turbines generate electricity at full power when the wind blows at 26 mph, but are capable of generating electricity with winds of 8 mph. When the wind speed reaches 50 mph, the turbines shut down for safety purposes.
Litchfield explained that the project will generate $1.5 million in annual lease payments to landowners and create up to 20 full-time jobs for technicians needed to maintain the wind farm.
He said the turbines will be spaced so that noise does not impact those who live in the area.
"We are designing this project so that each turbine operates at less than 50 decibels at every residence, whether they lease to us or not," Litchfield said.
"If you are driving down the highway in a Cadillac, the noise level is close to 70 decibels.
Iberdrola Renewables has set up an office at 126 E. Main St. in Van Wert. More information about the project is available at www.iberdrolarenewables.us/bluecreek.html. Iberdrola is also considering development of two additional wind farms adjacent to the Blue Creek project, according to Litchfield.
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