COLUMBUS — The Ohio Power Siting Board today approved an agreement authorizing Paulding Wind Farm II, LLC to construct Timber Road II Wind Farm in western Paulding County. The facility will consist of up to 98 wind turbines spread across 15,000 leased acres with a combined generating capacity of up to 150.4 megawatts
“The certification of Timber Road II is another step in the right direction for Ohio’s clean energy future,” said Alan R. Schriber OPSB chairman. “The wind farm will contribute towards the renewable goals included in our state’s alternative energy portfolio.”
Process
Paulding Wind II filed an application May 14 with the OPSB for a certificate to site a wind-powered electric generation facility. After conducting an investigation of Paulding Wind II’s proposal, OPSB staff submitted a summary of its findings and recommendation to the board Sept. 7.
At a local public hearing held in Paulding in September, six witnesses provided testimony about the project. Supporters emphasized the potential economic and environmental benefits of the project. Opponents voiced concerns about potential negative consequences including effects on public health and property values.
Paulding Wind II, OPSB staff and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation filed an agreement Oct. 5 resolving all of the outstanding issues in the case.
The agreement recommended approval of the application subject to 60 conditions intended to mitigate the ecological, environmental and social impacts of the project.
Included in these conditions, Paulding Wind II must:
Mitigate the potential impacts of noise and shadow flicker near the project area.
Install and maintain erosion and sedimentation control measures.
Establish a process to receive project-related complaints from the public.
Meet all federal and state requirements for construction of turbines that may affect navigable airspace, radar or communications.
Repair all impacted roads and bridges following construction.
Repair damage to agricultural land, including field tile.
Decommission the facility, or individual turbines, at the company’s expense.
Paulding Wind II expects to begin the construction of this project in December 2010. Construction will include a new transformer substation and underground electric collection lines, as well as new or improved access roads to support the facility.
Jobs
The project is expected to create 420 temporary construction jobs and 43 full-time, permanent positions. The OPSB certificated the construction of Timber Road Wind Farm on August 23.
Under Ohio’s alternative energy portfolio standard, 25 percent of electricity sold in Ohio must be generated from alternative energy sources by 2025. 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 the Timber Road project, the OPSB has certificated six wind facilities across the state totaling 555 turbines and up to 1,032.3 MW. Additional information regarding this project is available at www.OPSB.ohio.gov.
