The presence of the federally-endangered Indiana bat may delay plans to install wind turbines in southern Logan County, but shouldn't have an impact on Champaign County, said a wind company representative Friday. "We are aware of the bat being found and we're working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources," said Michael Speerschneider with Everpower Renewables.

A New York firm apparently is the only viable company remaining among three suitors interested in using publicly owned land on Conneaut's East Side for a wind turbine farm, City Council learned at Monday's work session. City administrators have heard nothing from two companies that months ago expressed interest in dozens of acres within the East Conneaut Industrial Park, council was told. As a result, the city will extend an invitation to BQ Energy to submit a proposal for the property, council agreed.

City officials are willing to pay to literally find out which way the wind is blowing. The City Council on Nov. 3 approved spending up to $16,000 as the city's share of a wind monitoring study with Grusenmeyer Land LLC. The funds, one-half the project cost, will be used to purchase, install, service and monitor an anemometer east of the city to test wind speed and direction.

The first company to make a pitch for a wind turbine farm on Conneaut's East Side was also the first to see its proposal rejected by City Council. By a 5-2 vote, council Monday night rejected a contract with SGR Site Associates of Willoughby that would have sold the company nearly 160 acres of land within the East Conneaut Industrial Park. The contract, tabled earlier this month for further study, was revived for a deciding vote at Monday's meeting. The measure would have given SGR a two-year option on the land and the chance to buy the property for $2,400 an acre.

Union Twp. residents will have to decide whether they want zoning regulations for wind turbines. Energy companies have made proposals to erect numerous windmills in the county, including Union Twp. The issue is on the Nov. 4 ballot. ...The regulations, which were drafted by a township zoning commission, do not adequately protect area homeowners, said Julie Johnson, a Union Neighbors United representative. Among the problems, she said, the regulations rely on the state to set a noise standard for the turbines, and would measure setbacks from homes, instead of property values.

Contrary to comments made Monday by Councilman-at-large Jacob Chicatelli, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has not indicated wind turbines will be taboo on east side property. ...At Monday night's work session, while members were debating the merits of various wind farm proposals, Chicatelli said he was told by a member of the state Division of Wildlife that turbines will never be erected on city-owned land because of bird migratory patterns in the area. Recently, Chicatelli said he learned the comment was made by someone from a federal - not state - wildlife agency.

Councilman-at-Large Jacob Chicatelli Monday night railed against peers reluctant to consider a contract with the first firm to publicly express interest in a wind turbine project on city-owned land near the state line. Chicatelli said the city is guaranteed to earn more than $300,000 through a pending contract with SGR Site Associates of Willoughby. Companies that want to lease the land, within the East Conneaut Industrial Park, can't promise a similar return, he said. Chicatelli said he will move to revive the SGR contract in time for next week's regular meeting.

A proposed wind turbine at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds faces one more hurdle before it can be approved by the city. After being approved unanimously by both the Board of Zoning Appeals and Planning Commission, the turbine is now before City Council.

Richland County Commissioners formed a new group to study how to bring wind-generated electric power to the county. Commissioner Tim Wert, chairman of the Richland Wind Working Group, said there is statewide and nationwide interest in alternative energy and the possibility of a new power source through wind turbines. "We can optimize opportunities to get wind energy into Richland County," Wert said. "It would put a lot of money into the county and improve our infrastructure."

A representative for an energy consulting firm urged City Council to stand firm when dealing with companies keen on erecting wind turbines on city-owned property. Patti Shore, of Eurus Energy America Corp., said the city has every right to expect a fair return on the use of its land, regardless of how the property is used in a wind-farm project. Shore's company usually works with energy companies on such projects but also could help Conneaut secure the best deal possible, she said.

In the three-way horse race to erect a wind turbine farm in the Conneaut area, BQ Energy may be leading at the turn. City Council members who attended a Thursday afternoon presentation by the wind energy company were blown away by what they heard. There's a good chance the firm will be invited to prepare a formal proposal, Council President James Jones said Friday. "We may be talking to them about a proposal," he said.

City Council will have further conversations with a New York-based developer interested in erecting wind turbines in the Conneaut area, members agreed Thursday afternoon. No proposals were broached during the hour-long meeting with BQ Energy, but council - impressed with the presentation - seemed open to more dialogue. ...BQ is the third and most recent developer to contact the city about creating a wind farm in the surrounding area. Thursday's meeting served as an informal introduction.

Lake Erie's wind, geology and habitat can accommodate towering wind turbines, new studies from a local energy task force say. Cuyahoga County officials this week rolled out the first three reports from their $1 million study of a grand vision -- erecting two to 10 wind turbines in the lake off Cleveland's shore. ...Turbine noise and vibration could disturb fish, the study said. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources also cautioned that federal rules might require security zones around the towers, diverting recreational fishing and boating.

"Wind is coming whether you want it or not," Ohio Power Siting Board Executive Director Kim Wissman said at one point in the more-than-two-hour-long meeting with concerned citizens and wind turbine leaseholders. She said that while some companies have abandoned a project in the early stages, she does not recall a time in her 30 years with the Siting Board that the arm of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has turned down a project. "I'm not sure the board has outright rejected an application, but we have required certain modifications," Ms. Wissman said.

Tom Patton wants to harness the wind. The Avon Lake resident wants to put a wind turbine about 50 meters out into Lake Erie - something that Patton said hasn't been done elsewhere in the Great Lakes. He's in a holding pattern though, he said, as he has to wait for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to review the project. His understanding of the problem is that the ODNR doesn't have any rules or regulations regarding wind turbines in the lake, and they don't know when they might have them, Patton said. He already has the approval of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Legislation that could sell nearly 160 acres of city-owned land for a possible wind farm was tabled at Monday's City Council meeting. Councilman-at-Large Chris Castrilla tabled the measure, in its third and final reading, after three members opposed amending the contract to include concessions recently agreed to by SGR Site Associates of Willoughby. The legislation would approve a two-year option agreement with SGR for the land, which abuts the state line. SGR representatives have said the city land is needed primarily to connect larger parcels to the north and south.

City-owned land sought for a proposed wind turbine farm is needed primarily to link two more important parcels and may not contain any turbines at all, City Council learned at Monday's work session. Ron Gainar of SGR Site Associates said wetlands concerns and other issues may prevent any of the gigantic turbines from sprouting on the 159 acres at stake within the East Conneaut Industrial Park. The placement of turbines on the proposed farm is important because some council members hoped the city could receive a percentage of the profit earned by turbines built on park property.

Whichever way the wind blows regarding Conneaut's two competing alternative energy proposals, the state stands ready to assist, officials said. Dueling wind turbine farm concepts pitched to City Council in recent months prompted Monday's informational meeting, featuring experts from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Department of Development. The pair, joined by State Sen. Capri Cafaro and State Rep. Deborah Newcomb, updated City Council and a capacity audience on Ohio's burgeoning wind farm initiative.

Plans for a new wind turbine at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds could blow the winds of controversy in Middleburg Heights. ..."In this case it would be a height regulation. This area is zoned public facility so there is a 50-foot height requirement and they are looking for an additional 200 feet," he said. At 250 feet, the turbine will stand 100 feet taller than the one at the science center, an issue for some residents and businesses in Middleburg Heights. The mayor is holding a public meeting where people can ask questions about the plan.

City Council in Conneaut is becoming increasingly skeptical of a proposed agreement that could help transform a large chunk of publicly owned land into a wind turbine farm. Council had plenty of questions Tuesday night regarding an ordinance that would sell 159 acres of the East Conneaut Industrial Park to SGR Site Associates of Willoughby. The lengthy contract, introduced for action last month, apparently is headed for a major overhaul before council gives it serious consideration.