Article
Ohio officials express concern about wind turbines surrounding village
News Tribune|John Thompson|May 3, 2006
OHIO — The village of Ohio TIF and building committee recommended at its regular meeting Tuesday night that mayor Charlie Thomas set up a meeting with representatives of Midwest Wind Energy to discuss how far wind turbines can be erected from the village limits.
OHIO — The village of Ohio TIF and building committee recommended at its regular meeting Tuesday night that mayor Charlie Thomas set up a meeting with representatives of Midwest Wind Energy to discuss how far wind turbines can be erected from the village limits.
Midwest Wind Energy is planning to build approximately 60 wind turbines that will extend from the Bureau County line to approximately three miles southwest of Ohio as part of its Big Sky wind farm project.
Thomas said the Bureau County zoning office has recommended a minimum half-mile setback to serve as a buffer between the village and the wind turbines.
“Some people would like us to stop any within a mile,” said Thomas, who supports the wind farm. “I don’t know if we want to stop any of them, but if we don’t handle this right, we’re going to be surrounded.”
Thomas displayed a map of the proposed project to committee chairman Kathy Conner and committee member Charles Swanson. According to the map, only the southeast quadrant of Ohio …
... more
[truncated due to possible copyright]
Midwest Wind Energy is planning to build approximately 60 wind turbines that will extend from the Bureau County line to approximately three miles southwest of Ohio as part of its Big Sky wind farm project.
Thomas said the Bureau County zoning office has recommended a minimum half-mile setback to serve as a buffer between the village and the wind turbines.
“Some people would like us to stop any within a mile,” said Thomas, who supports the wind farm. “I don’t know if we want to stop any of them, but if we don’t handle this right, we’re going to be surrounded.”
Thomas displayed a map of the proposed project to committee chairman Kathy Conner and committee member Charles Swanson. According to the map, only the southeast quadrant of Ohio would be free from any wind turbines.
The concerns of the committee were twofold: noise from the turbines and limits to the potential growth of the village.
“We want someplace to grow,” Conner said.