Ohio lags far behind the rest of the Midwest -- and most of the country -- in wind power use. ...So why does Ohio have one wind farm -- the four turbines at the Wood County Landfill in Bowling Green -- instead of windmills all over the northern part of the state? "In the past, other states have offered better incentives," said Joe Woods, managing director of North Coast Wind and Power LLC in Port Clinton.

Ohio's tax structure could blow holes in the state's plan to become a major wind energy center, a national wind trade group says. In a letter to Gov. Ted Strickland, the American Wind Energy Association argues that Ohio's tangible personal property tax on electric utilities could drive wind developers to neighboring states. Other Ohio businesses no longer pay tangible personal property taxes, which are imposed on a utility's equipment, such as generators and wires.

Wind energy development projects, like the wind turbine power projects slated for Champaign County, will not be immediately deterred despite President Bush signing legislation Wednesday that omits tax breaks for renewable energy resources. Everpower Renewables, a New York-based wind energy developer, hopes other opportunities will become available after the president signed the bill that did not renew a production credit for renewable energy ..."Without those available, it would definitely change the environment in which we're working," he said, adding that the company had hoped other incentives would have been added if the tax credit was cut.

Two northwest Ohio higher-education institutions may receive federal money from three bills the House Appropriations Committee passed recently without opposition....... Money was included for Bowling Green State University for two separate projects, each in a different bill The Energy and Water Appropriations Act includes $100,000 for BGSU's Coastal Wind Ohio partnership with the city of Huron, Ohio. The funding would allow BGSU to buy and install two wind turbines and wind-power experimentation stations for the Huron area.

State incentives aimed at developing wind energy in Ohio could mean a breath of fresh air for Rock Creek’s plan to erect a electricity-producing turbine in Conneaut. On Thursday, Gov. Ted Strickland announced $5 million in grants will be available to communities and others who develop wind-based energy programs.

The practicality and ecological consequences of erecting a wind turbine on the Maumee Bay shore will be the subject of a study for which the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority board of directors yesterday approved hiring two consultants. The port board also took a procedural step that will allow a local preservation group to assume ownership of the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse.

The $53,500 grant is being dispensed as part of the Value Added Agriculture Product Market Development Grant Program. The money will fund a feasibility study of wind energy including wind testing using altimeter.

FOREST PARK - Gov. Bob Taft on Friday announced a new state pilot program to provide $25 million over five years to encourage wind power development in Ohio.