COLUMBUS — The Ohio Power Siting Board recently approved an agreement authorizing Hog Creek Wind Farm to construct eight additional wind turbines in northwest Hardin County.
The first phase of the Hog Creek Wind Farm was certified by the OPSB in March 2010. Once completed, phases I and II will include a total of 35 wind turbines with a combined generating capacity of approximately 67 megawatts.
Construction outlook
Hog Creek expects to begin construction on phases I and II in late 2011 or early 2012. The project will employ between 70 and 130 workers during the six to nine month construction period, and construction payroll is expected to approach $1 million.
The completed facility will employ a permanent staff of three to five operation and maintenance employees.
Hog Creek filed its initial application Aug. 25, 2010 with the OPSB for a certificate to site a wind-powered electric generation facility. After conducting an investigation of Hog Creek’s proposal, OPSB staff submitted a summary of its findings and recommendation to the board July 8.
At a local public hearing held July 25 in Ada two witnesses provided testimony about the project.
Agreement
Hog Creek, OPSB Staff and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation filed an agreement Aug. 8 resolving all of the outstanding issues in the case.
The agreement recommended approval of the application subject to specific conditions intended to mitigate the ecological, environmental and social impacts of the project.
Included in these conditions, Hog Creek must mitigate the potential impacts of noise and shadow flicker, install and maintain erosion and sedimentation control measures, repair impacted roads and bridges and agricultural land following construction.
Hog Creek must also decommission the facility, or individual turbines, at its own expense.
Standard
Under Ohio’s alternative energy portfolio standard, by 2025, 25 percent of electricity sold in Ohio must be generated from alternative energy sources. At least half of this energy must come from renewable energy sources, including wind, and at least half of the renewable energy must be generated by facilities located within Ohio.
With the addition of Hog Creek Phase II, the OPSB has certificated the construction of 571 wind turbines across the state with a combined generating capacity of up to 1,0351 MW.
More information about the Hog Creek Wind Farm is available at www.opsb.ohio.gov.
