LORAIN — Green Energy Ohio, a non-profit organization devoted to promoting renewable energy, will conduct a wind-monitoring study on a Lorain communications tower to determine if the area has sufficient wind power for future wind turbines. The study could help pave the way for the area's entry into wind power generation and equipment manufacturing.Kemp Jaycox, wind energy program manager, called the project "very exciting." He said he is confident the 12-month study will find sufficient wind power in the area because of the Lake Erie winds.The equipment will be installed in March at the Lorain communications tower, at FirstEnergy's West Lorain Plant at 7017 West Erie Avenue. Monitoring devices, placed at heights of 60, 80 and 100 meters, will gather data including wind speed, direction and temperature over the course of one year. The final report will include the gross and net energy production estimates.The study criteria called for data to be collected at heights up to 100 meters within half a mile of the lake.
Green Energy Ohio was awarded $14,820 by the Ohio Lake Erie Commission and $31,905 from the U.S. Department of Energy for the project."This is the first wind power project that we've done in that region," said Chris Riddle, grants manager for the Ohio Lake Erie Commission, "We have done studies on the lake before. What's really great about this particular study is that we're getting data at higher heights," Riddle said.Don't expect to see wind turbines installed immediately after the study's completion. Additional studies are needed, including studies on how to minimize effects on birds. Also, the high cost of wind turbines could delay their arrival to the area for another two or three years, Jaycox said.But the study is the first step in "the right direction" to making the renewable source a reality for the region, he said."I think this is a good step towards moving forward with the wind project in Lorain," Jaycox said. "We want to bring turbine manufacturers to Ohio and create jobs. Green jobs have the potential to replace the manufacturing jobs we've lost. Overall, this is a great opportunity for Lorain."Passage of Ohio's energy legislation gave renewable energy a push forward, too, Jaycox said. The bill requires that the four major electric companies including FirstEnergy have 12.5 percent of their electricity generated from renewable sources by the year 2025. At least 6.25 percent of that electricity must be generated in Ohio."Our study could determine there's enough wind here, but unless there's a real incentive for manufacturers to come here, nothing's going to happen," Jaycox said "This (energy bill) policy and this study will help bring manufacturers to Ohio."
Green Energy Ohio was awarded $14,820 by the Ohio Lake Erie Commission and $31,905 from the U.S. Department of Energy for the project."This is the first wind power project that we've done in that region," said Chris Riddle, grants manager for the Ohio Lake Erie Commission, "We have done studies on the lake before. What's really great about this particular study is that we're getting data at higher heights," Riddle said.Don't expect to see wind turbines installed immediately after the study's completion. Additional studies are needed, including studies on how to minimize effects on birds. Also, the high cost of wind turbines could delay their arrival to the area for another two or three years, Jaycox said.But the study is the first step in "the right direction" to making the renewable source a reality for the region, he said."I think this is a good step towards moving forward with the wind project in Lorain," Jaycox said. "We want to bring turbine manufacturers to Ohio and create jobs. Green jobs have the potential to replace the manufacturing jobs we've lost. Overall, this is a great opportunity for Lorain."Passage of Ohio's energy legislation gave renewable energy a push forward, too, Jaycox said. The bill requires that the four major electric companies including FirstEnergy have 12.5 percent of their electricity generated from renewable sources by the year 2025. At least 6.25 percent of that electricity must be generated in Ohio."Our study could determine there's enough wind here, but unless there's a real incentive for manufacturers to come here, nothing's going to happen," Jaycox said "This (energy bill) policy and this study will help bring manufacturers to Ohio."
