Everpower Wind Holdings Inc. of New York has asked the Ohio Power Siting Board for permits to construct 70 wind turbines in Champaign County, west of Columbus. Michael Speerschneider, Everpower's project development director, said the company has leases on 10,000 acres in order to expand and is seeking permission to flow up to 200 megawatts from the wind farm.

Ohio has finally landed its first big wind farm application.

Everpower Wind Holdings Inc. of New York has asked the Ohio Power Siting Board for permits to construct 70 wind turbines in Champaign County, west of Columbus.

Michael Speerschneider, Everpower's project development director, said the company has leases on 10,000 acres in order to expand and is seeking permission to flow up to 200 megawatts from the wind farm into the high-voltage transmission system managed in that part of the state by PJM Interconnection, headquartered near Valley Forge, Pa.

Speerschneider is attending the American Wind Energy Association's annual conference this week, surveying the more than 1,000 companies exhibiting products.

The company has not decided on the brand or size of turbine, he said, but probably will choose one capable of generating 2 to 2.5 megawatts.

A megawatt equals one million watts and can power about 1,000 homes.

Speerschneider said the company estimates the cost of the project at $380 million.

Everpower hopes to begin construction in late 2010 and begin operations in late 2011. The project would create 150 construction jobs and 1,500 indirect jobs. When operational, the farm would require 12 maintenance people and support 60 more jobs indirectly.

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