Wind turbine project slows

With the exception of the shores of Lake Erie, the ridge just to the east of Urbana stretching northward to Bellefontaine, has some of the best potential for wind power generation in the state of Ohio. Which is why Everpower has selected Champaign County for the Buckeye Wind Project.

Currently 70 wind turbines are on the drawing board which could range in height from 160 to a whopping 492 feet, roughly one and a half times the length of a football field, but in hieght.  Out of those 70 turbines 38 have been flagged by the Federal Aviation Administration as having a potentially negative impact on approaches to Grimes Field on the north and to Weller Airport on the east side of Urbana.

These wind turbines could also pose a problem to Careflight. CareFlight must remain out of the clouds and at least 500 feet below the cloud deck. Currently it looks as though there will be many areas around the turbines that will be shut down from Careflight service, which may include two local hot spots for frequent crashes, the intersections of Three Mile Road and State Route 29 along with the intersection of U.S. Route 36 and state Route 814 / Ludlow Road.

If you have any concerns about the purposed wind farm in Champaign County a public hearing is scheduled for tomorrow evening at 6pm at Triad High School.  There all Oral and written comments from the public will be recorded.