Republican Lawmakers and Local Chamber CEOs Call for Fix to Wind Setbacks

Watch video here.

Wind energy in Ohio, they said, comes down to a story of “haves” and “have nots.”

Four years ago, policies for wind energy changed. This resulted in some communities benefiting from wind investments and some losing millions because the new policies stopped investments in some communities.

But, said Sen. Matt Dolan (R- Cuyahoga), there is a better way.

“I see that Ohio has an opportunity to not only be a leader in energy but to create a new economy—and that new economy in this case can be the economy of the wind industry,” said Sen. Dolan, sponsor of SB-238, the wind turbine set-back bill, which would strike a compromise to protects property rights and allow wind development to continue.

Rep. Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin), who moderated the press conference, called SB-238 “a good bill for getting this subject going.”

A new report by the Wind Energy Foundation released at the conference found:

“By failing to restore the state’s property line setback law for new wind power projects to a reasonable limit, the Ohio Legislature is putting $4 billion in projected economic impact at risk from approved and proposed in-state wind farms, most of which would flow to its rural counties.”

Those speaking at the conference—which included chamber of commerce CEOs, economic development leaders, school superintendents, and county commissioners—all live in wind-rich communities, said Susan Munroe, President and CEO of the Van Wert Area Chamber.

“But some of us have experienced the promise of economic opportunities with wind farm development, and some of us have been denied that same opportunity,” she said.  

Sen. Reineke said he hoped SB-238 would be passed this summer—noting the benefits would more than northwest Ohio.

“These turbines need to be made. These turbines need to be delivered. These turbines need to be installed. And these turbines need occasional maintenance. And all that work can be done by industries in Ohio,” he said.

Watch the video here.

Read the report here.

Pictured at top from left to right: Rep. Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin), Holly Stacey, Seneca County Commissioner, Mikayla Pieper, Executive Director, Paulding Chamber of Commerce

Ohio’s Local Chamber Leaders Share Story of Wind Benefits with State Legislators

Local chamber, economic development, and community leaders traveled to the state capitol on multiple occasions in 2017 to share their front-line stories about the benefits of wind energy. 

“Wind energy has been one of the biggest investments in Ohio and has the potential to contribute much more to Ohio’s future economic prosperity,” said Susan Munroe, President and CEO of the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce, home to the Blue Creek Wind Farm. “We want to work with legislators to encourage further investment and job growth created with wind energy development.” 

Wind energy has resulted in investments of more than $775 million in Ohio. This new “cash crop” delivers significant tax benefits to schools and other institutions, income to landowners and local supply chain businesses while supporting county services in communities able to host these wind farms. 

In 2014, however, the Ohio legislature tripled the setback provisions, which determine how far a wind turbine must be situated from the nearest property line—resulting in a near moratorium on wind farm development and investment. 

In one example of the economic benefits of wind investments: Iberdrola Renewables is, by far, the single largest taxpayer in Van Wert County. It contributes more than $2 million a year in tax payments, and nearly as much to the country’s landowners who allow wind turbines to be placed on their property. 

Much of the tax money benefits local schools, which at least one superintendent  (Jeff Synder of Lincolnview) has called a “godsend.” 

Meanwhile, major corporations such as Amazon have recently announced increased demand for wind energy to power their data centers in the state.  

And, in 2015, the Toledo-based Owens Corning signed the largest wind power purchase agreement by an industrial company in the world—though it must source wind energy from Texas. 

Munroe and Seneca County Commissioner Shayne Thomas recently addressed the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to describe the value that tax base increases, property owner payments, and increased economic activity deliver to their economies when utility scale wind farms are constructed. Read their testimony here and here.

Pictured at top from left to right: Tom Bullock, Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy; Jim Hoops, Northwest State Community College; Peggy Emerson, President & CEO Paulding Chamber of Commerce; Susan Munroe, President & CEO Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce; Senate President Larry Obhof; Jeff Snyder, Superintendent, Lincolnview Schools, Van Wert County; David Zak, President & CEO Seneca Industrial & Economic Development Corp.

Senator, Chamber CEOs Agree: Wind Development Benefits Rural Communities

Ohio State Senator Cliff Hite (R-Findlay) recently introduced critical legislation to fix Ohio's wind turbine setback laws that are preventing renewable energy jobs and economic development. 

“The current policy is contrary to Ohio’s reputation as a business-friendly environment and an energy-producing state,” Sen. Hite said at the Hog Creek Wind Farm construction project in Ada, Ohio. “It prevents businesses with an interest in gaining access to and investing in wind energy in Ohio from doing so.”

Ohio currently has the most restrictive wind setback provisions in the Midwest—despite enormous wind energy potential in the northwest and statewide opportunities in manufacturing wind turbine components. This is the result of legislation passed in 2014 that tripled the distance wind turbines must be from neighboring property lines and effectively brought development to a halt.

“This bill,” said Sen. Hite, “strikes the proper balance, protecting the rights of both participating and non-participating landowners and will allow responsible wind development to move forward.”

The new legislation would return the property line setback to a distance of 1.2 times the height of the turbine, which is still longer than the previous setback. It also increases the minimum setback from a home to approximately 1400 feet.

Rural chamber leaders cite benefits. Hardin County, home to the Hog Creek Wind Farm, is one of the of rural Ohio communities in a position to benefit from wind development.

“With almost $600,000 in annual payments to the county, schools and other public services, [this] wind farm is a massive infusion of new dollars into our community,” Jon Cross, President and CEO of the Hardin County Chamber and Business Alliance, said at today’s news conference.

But Hardin County is not the only one to have benefited from wind development that began before the more restrictive setbacks took effect. Cross also noted how his community has watched neighboring counties such as Paulding and Van Wert reap the benefits of wind farms for years and seen major improvements they’ve made to their schools and county infrastructure.

“Those of us with wind farms in our communities have seen firsthand what a positive difference these investments make for our businesses, schools, landowners and entire tax base,” said Susan Munroe, CEO and President of the Van Wert Area Chamber. “Just in Van Wert County alone, our wind farm is the largest single tax payer.

“That’s why I, along with other Northwest Ohio chamber and economic development directors, urge the House of Representatives to support this commonsense legislation,” Munroe added. “And I invite any Ohio House member to visit our wind farm in Van Wert, the largest in the state of Ohio.”  

According to a recent report from the American Wind Energy Association, restoring reasonable wind setback provisions will enable local communities, and the state, to attract jobs and investments that could reach an estimated $4.2 billion.

See video of Hog Creek Wind Farm Press Conference.

Pictured above left to right: Jon Cross, President & CEO, Hardin County Chamber and Business Alliance; Kenny Williams, Kent Williams Drainage; Senator Cliff Hite; Amy Kurt, Project Manager, EDP Renewables.