Wind use
generates interest in region: Port Clinton is latest to mull energy
option
Apr 11, 2006 - The Blade, Toledo, Ohio
Author(s): Jim Sielicki
Apr. 11--PORT CLINTON - Port Clinton and Ottawa County are joining
area communities in exploring the use of wind to generate electricity,
which has picked up momentum with the success of Bowling Green's wind
farm.
Mayor Tom Brown said the city is looking into alternative energy,
with a particular focus on wind power.
"We've had several presentations in City Council," he said yesterday,
calling Bowling Green the state's pioneer in wind power. "We wanted to
find out more about it."
Commissioner John Papcun said using wind blowing off Lake Erie to
generate electricity is appealing. But he warned that the county's
location along the migratory bird flyway could pose a handicap.
Port Clinton will address the issue when it meets today to consider a
resolution that asks the Ottawa County Improvement Corp. to assist with
funding an avian study before proceeding with the project, Mayor Brown
said.
Elmore has taken steps in that direction as well, authorizing a study
of meteorological conditions to see if wind turbines are feasible.
Last year, Oregon City Council in Lucas County heard a presentation
on the benefits of wind-powered generators. It referred the matter to
council's public utilities and environmental committee.
In Bryan, the Williams County community is spending $110,000 in state
and federal grants to see if the city would be a good place to place
wind turbines.
Wind towers, albeit on a smaller scale, are beginning to sprout in
rural Ottawa County, said Walter Wehenkel, Ottawa County's regional
planning director.
The agency is working with townships on zoning to regulate placement
of privately owned wind turbines, including issues such as tower height
and "fall zones" to protect nearby buildings. The planning agency has
handled about a half-dozen requests to date, he said.
"Our information is more geared toward individuals," said Mr.
Wehenkel, whose agency is not involved in the Port Clinton resolution.
Wind generators on private land, designed to power houses or small
buildings, are generally limited to 75 feet in height and have turbine
blades that measure 8 to 10 feet, as compared to the maximum height of
390 feet of the extended turbine blades in Bowling Green.
Bowling Green's wind farm, owned by a consortium of small towns,
generates 7.2 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 1,560 homes.
But building wind turbines close to Lake Erie may be more
problematic.
Mr. Wehenkel and Mr. Papcun expressed concern over migratory bird
flight paths over Ottawa County, and the area's numerous eagle nests.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has addressed placement of wind
turbines because of the birds' flight path, but does not issue permits
for the structures, said Nicholas Throckmorton, spokesman for the
agency. The agency's field offices can act as consultants for the
project, he said, to help avoid wildlife concerns.
In 2002, the wildlife service established national guidelines for
siting wind turbines.
Ottawa County is home to a growing number of nesting eagles, a
protected species that could complicate siting wind turbines along the
lake, where the birds often hunt. Last year, 366 bald eagles were
reported across Ohio, including 247 adults and 119 eaglets.
The major concentrations of eagle nests is in northwest Ohio in the
western Lake Erie marsh, according to the Ohio Department of Natural
Resources, which last year reported 16 nests in Ottawa County and 11 in
Erie County.
Mary Knapp, field supervisor with the Fish and Wildlife's Ohio office
in Rey-noldsburg, said federal regulations prohibit human activity
within 100 meters or more of an eagle's nest, depending on location and
vegetation.
Ottawa County's Mr. Papcun said an avian study could help address
those concerns.
Mr. Papcun said Ottawa County plans a meeting with representatives
from the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Ohio Department of Natural
Resources to iron out potential problems. The meeting is tentatively set
for June, he said.
Contact Jim Sielicki
at:jsielicki@theblade.comor 419-724-6078.
© Copyright 2006 NetContent, Inc. Duplication and
distribution restricted.Visit http://www.powermarketers.com/index.shtml
for excellent coverage on your energy news front.
|