In June 2014, without public testimony or justification, Ohio passed a statewide property line setback law for wind power development that is one of the most stringent in the nation and far exceeds more common property lines setbacks implemented across the country.
Local groups work to improve on what Ohio legislature gets right and wrong regarding wind power
Hite recognizes that property rights must be respected. “Companies want to build wind projects in Ohio, so we want to reconsider the overreaching effort that restricts wind farm development,” said Hite.
Appalachian Power files to acquire Hardin & Beech Ridge II wind facilities
Appalachian Power is making concurrent filings with the Virginia State Corporation Commission and the Public Service Commission of West Virginia requesting regulatory approvals to acquire the Hardin and Beech Ridge II wind facilities. The 175-MW Hardin Wind Facility will be located in Hardin County, Ohio, and the 50-MW Beech Ridge II Wind Facility will be in…
Extending the freeze on clean energy ties Ohio to old power tech
While Ohioans’ support for clean energy is at an all-time high, State Senator Bill Seitz introduced legislation today that would thwart clean energy progress in Ohio.
Why can’t Ohio utilities just work with the wind industry?
According to Ohio Citizen Action, those three utilities have “filed proposals to raise consumer rates and use the profits to cover the costs of their outdated and inefficient coal plants.”
Sumitomo Corp to begin operation of first independent large-scale battery power storage system
Sumitomo Corp of Americas is commencing the operation of its innovative battery power storage system, Willey Battery Utility, LLC, that it has been constructing in Hamilton County, Ohio since April.
Amazon to power its Ohio operations with local wind generation
Online retailer Amazon wants to power its operations on clean energy so it’s building a wind farm in western Ohio.
Report: Investing in Ohio’s clean-energy economy will create jobs, increase household incomes, & boost Ohio’s economy
This report builds on NextGen Climate America’s analysis in November showing that meeting carbon emissions reduction goals at the national level will help grow the United States economy, create millions of jobs across the country, increase household disposable incomes, and lower energy bills.
Gamesa to supply turbines for 100-MW Amazon Wind Farm U.S. Central
Gamesa, a provider of global technology in wind energy, will supply EDP Renewables (EDPR) with wind turbines for its 100-MW Amazon Wind Farm U.S. Central. Under the terms of the agreement, Gamesa will handle the transport, installation, and commissioning of 48 of its G114-2.1 MW turbines for the project, located in Paulding County, Ohio. Turbine…
Local control of wind-farm sites could bring more projects to Ohio
A legislative proposal to give more control over wind farm sites to local officials has support from several officials in northwestern Ohio
Conservative group forms to support renewable energy standards
Governor John Kasich, who last year signed the bill to freeze Ohio’s renewable energy and energy efficiency standards for two years does not support continuing that freeze indefinitely,
Amazon Web Services plans 100-MW Ohio wind farm to power its data centers
Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com company, announced that it has contracted with EDP Renewables to construct and operate a 100-MW wind farm in Paulding County, Ohio. Starting in May 2017, the new Amazon Wind Farm US Central is expected to start generating approximately 320,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of wind energy annually. That’s enough to power more than…
Retired coal plant serves as new energy storage site
Duke Energy, LG Chem, and Greensmith are bringing new technology to the site of a 1952 retired coal plant with the completion of a 2-MW battery-based energy storage system. The new project is designed to increase reliability and stability for the electric power grid. As of November 17, the fast-response system is actively regulating electric grid…
Six Ohio counties (and counting) declare themselves Alternative Energy Zones
This article comes from law firm Bricker & Eckler LLP and is authored by Christopher M. Montgromery. Six Ohio counties have declared themselves “Alternative Energy Zones” under a state law enacted last year that reshaped the tax regime for renewable and advanced energy projects. The designation speeds the approval process for developers, reducing the uncertainty…
Ohio lags behind other Great Lakes states in installed wind power
Dylan F Borchers / Bricker & Eckler LLP Throughout the Great Lakes states and the upper Midwest, Ohio’s 435 megawatts (MW) of installed wind capacity puts the state at the bottom of the pack, according to a recent Hannah Report. The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)’s third-quarter figures for the entire country show Iowa (5,710…
Duke Energy, LG Chem and Greensmith team up to build a fast-response energy storage system in Ohio
Duke Energy, LG Chem and Greensmith will team up to build a battery-based energy storage system in Ohio, designed to enhance reliability and increase stability on the electric power grid. Duke Energy, the nation’s largest electric utility, currently owns nearly 15 percent of the grid-connected, battery-based energy storage capacity in the U.S., according to independent research…
Clean-energy advocates hope two-year freeze doesn’t extend to repeal of standards
This article, from law firm Bricker & Eckler, is authored by J. Thomas Siwo. Ohio clean-energy advocates are hoping to avoid further setbacks to the state’s renewable energy future after Ohio Senate Bill 310 (SB 310) created a two-year freeze on renewable energy and energy efficiency standards (see our June 13, 2014 blog post for more on…
A letter to the editor: Hurray for Ohio? Legislators show level-headed thinking, says reader
Dear Windpower Engineering & Development: [This is in response to recent legislation, Ohio Senate Bill 310, that put the Ohio RES on hold for two years and set back the state’s wind industry by many more.] Oh my! There are politicians in Ohio who actually have the courage to ask, “What cost to consumers [do]…
Sad days for Ohio and its budding wind industry
The wind Luddites are back. The original Luddites were a group of thick-headed textile artisans say some, who thought the industrial revolution and its newfangled weaving machines and looms would put their handiwork out of business. In modern terms, they had no vision, they feared progress, and more importantly for this lesson, they feared competition.…
Gov. Kasich should veto wind energy-killing provision of H.B. 483 that jeopardizes $2.5 billion investment in Ohio
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) calls on Governor John Kasich to protect billions of dollars in potential investments in Ohio by using his line item veto to strike a provision in House Bill (H.B.) 483, which places unduly restrictive setbacks on new Ohio wind farms. “This would kill further wind energy development in Ohio…