Ohio Power Siting Board has approved the state's first large wind farms

Cleveland Ohio
Business News
By John Funk,
The Plain Dealer
March 22, 2010, 7:06PM



















This could be a common Ohio scene in years to come with several firms planning wind energy projects, primarily in the northwest quadrant of the state. The turbines above are operated by juwi Gmbh in Brittany, France. Juwi owns JW Great Lakes Wind, which is based in Cleveland and looking to harness the wind in several places in Ohio.

This could be a common Ohio scene in years to come with several firms planning wind energy projects, primarily in the northwest quadrant of the state. The turbines above are operated by juwi Gmbh in Brittany, France. Juwi owns JW Great Lakes Wind, which is based in Cleveland and looking to harness the wind in several places in Ohio.

State regulators have approved construction of the first large wind turbine farms in Ohio, including one by a Cleveland-based wind developer.

The Ohio Power Siting Board Monday approved three separate projects in western Ohio after about a year of review and hearings. The three will have a total generating capacity of nearly 500 megawatts.

That's about as much electricity -- at least when the wind is blowing -- as what a medium-sized coal-fired power plant can generate. A megawatt is equal to one million watts, enough power for about 800 homes.

The project proposed by JW Great Lakes Wind, of Cleveland, is in Hardin County, east of Lima, and would include up to 27 wind turbines with a total capacity of 48 megawatts.

JW Great Lakes Wind is a subsidiary of German wind developer Juwi GmbH. The Cuyahoga wind task force in 2008 hired Juwi to study the feasibility of building a wind farm in Lake Erie. Juwi last year reported such a project is technically feasible.

Juwi plans to begin construction of the Hardin County wind farm this year and start commercial operation in mid-2011, according to the siting board.

A second Hardin County project will be built by Invenergy Wind LLC, a Chicago-based company that claims to be the largest independent U.S. wind developer.

Invenergy's Hardin farm would contain up to 200 wind turbines with a total capacity of 300 megawatts. It would be built in phases and include a transformer substation, interconnection substation, underground electricity collection system and about 30 miles of roads.

The third project approved Monday would be in Champaign County, northeast of Dayton

The developer is New York City-based EverPower. The Buckeye Wind Farm would include about 50 wind turbines with a total generating capacity of 135 megawatts.

EverPower hopes to begin construction later this year, but siting board hearings drew opponents as well as advocates, and by board rules, any of the opponents have 30 days to object to Monday's ruling, said a spokesman.

The siting board is still reviewing three additional wind farm projects. By law, Ohio's utilities must by 2025 generate or purchase 25 percent of the power they sell from renewable sources such as wind turbines.

How to Rebuild America

Today's Green Chip Review



The New Road to Energy Sustainability
March 12th, 2010 - By Chris Nelder

In his report, "How to Rebuild America," Green Chip Editor Chris Nelder writes a letter to Congress on behalf of the American people, asking for a real energy plan...

Dear Congress,

We, the American People, want a New Deal for energy.

We're tired of watching the rest of the world kick the clean energy industry into high gear while we're still stuck in neutral, debating a weak cap-and-trade bill that doesn't come close to meeting our energy challenge...

Continue: How to Rebuild America

Most Popular Articles

Spain's Solar Power Market Meets Morocco
Europe Looks South for Clean Energy Growth

The Renewable Power Rebellion
Local Supply is the Name of the Game

Peru Wind Energy Projects
The Profits from this Energy Armada are Coming Soon


The Rooftop Solar Market
Local Solutions Crack the Solar Financing Nut

The Outlook for Geothermal Energy Stocks
Where the Hot Spots Are in Geothermal Energy

Forecast For Renewable Energy in 2010
The Market for Renewable Energy Stocks in the New Year

The Verdict on the Bloom Box and the 60 Minutes Coup
Is the Bloom Box Energy's Holy Grail?

Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs)
Calling Out Green Fearmongering

Scott Brown Energy Agenda
Will This Senator Kill Renewables?

The Verdict on the Bloom Box and the 60 Minutes Coup
Is the Bloom Box Energy's Holy Grail?

Green Side of the 2010 Detroit Auto Show
Electric Cars Shine at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show


A Few Words on Green Chip Stocks
We're at the dawn of a new age in energy. The days of alternative and renewable energy quietly playing out as a niche market are coming quickly to an end.

Green Chip Stocks readers have been the ones getting in early and beating the rest of the trend-chasers to the punch. And that is certainly going to continue.

We're no longer at a "tipping point" here. We're beyond that. The only thing left to do is load up on the right green stocks and alternative energy investments before all the trend chasers... and cash out while mainstream media continues tripping over themselves while reporting the "latest" in alternative energy.

Be sure not to miss out on what will undoubtedly prove to be history's single most important market transformation. Start your free subscription to the Green Chip Review e-Letter right now, and learn how to get in on the still-early rounds of profits in:

Solar Energy
Wind Energy
Geothermal
Plug-in Hybrid Electric (PHEV) Vehicles
Organic Foods
Water
Carbon Trading
Waste-to-Energy
Biofuels
Smart Grid

Green Investing News
NYSERDA Commits $8M to Develop and Commercialize 19 New York Battery and Energy-Storage Technology Projects
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will award $8 million to help develop or commercialize 19 advanced energy storage projects. The awards are being made to companies and universities across New York that are involved in advanced research and development of energy storage applications that could benefit transportation, utility Smart Grid applications, renewable energy technologies, and other industries.

Posted: Thursday, Mar 11, 2010
Read More Green Investing News

Green Investing Reports
Wind Energy Stocks
Green Chip Stocks Editor Nick Hodge explains why wind energy stocks are the next big energy investments and how to invest in the next big company.

Investing in Algae Biofuel
Investors are cleaning up in the up and coming biofuels sector. But those investing in algae biofuels are amassing even greater gains.


Green Chip Living
This Week in Green Chip Living
Green Makeovers for Vending Machines, Traintracks, Refrigerators, and Your Local Mall
Green Chip Living Editor Brigid Darragh highlights the week's headlines and exciting announcements in greentech. » Read more

Posted: Friday, March 12, 2010
Biofuels
The Verdict on the Bloom Box and the 60 Minutes Coup
Is the Bloom Box Energy's Holy Grail?
Green Chip Editor Chris Nelder takes a critical look at the new Bloom Box fuel cell system, and concludes that it's a modest improvement over standard natural gas-fired power. » Read more

Posted: Friday, February 26, 2010
Carbon Emissions Trading
Bullish Sentiment Reigns for the Green Sector
Green Chip's Weekend Edition
Green Chip Editor Nick Hodge comments on the week that was in the green sector and highlights the good news that came in from several fronts. » Read more

Posted: Sunday, November 15, 2009
Energy Infrastructure
Why We Have Been and Will Continue to Be Bullish on Chinese Solar Firms
Green Chip's Weekend Edition
Green Chip Editor Nick Hodge comments on the week in the green sector and shows readers why one chart is worth a thousand words... and even more in investment dollars. » Read more

Posted: Sunday, March 07, 2010
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal Energy in Iceland
Could Magma Heat Power Your Car?
Green Chip Editor Sam Hopkins breaks down key lessons from his meeting with the head of Iceland's National Energy Authority. » Read more

Posted: Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Global Warming
Debating Climate Change
Debating Climate Change Won't Make You Rich
Green Chip's Jeff Siegel explains why debating climate change won't make rich, but reveals some opportune places to look that could. » Read more

Posted: Monday, February 22, 2010
Green Building
The Profitable Stocks behind Cash for Caulkers
How to Profit From Cash for Caulkers Investments
Green Chip Editor Jeff Siegel highlights opportunities in energy efficiency and green building. » Read more

Posted: Monday, March 08, 2010
Grid Parity Blog
Renewable Energy Capacities by Country
An At-A-Glance Look at Wind, Solar, Geothermal, and Biofuel Energy Resources
Green Chip contributor Hilary Stingley shares several lists showing renewable energy capacities in multiple countries by technology. » Read more

Posted: Friday, March 12, 2010
Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Green Side of the 2010 Detroit Auto Show
Electric Cars Shine at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show
Green Chip Editor Jeff Siegel discusses electric cars and the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. » Read more

Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
Marine Energy
The Green Technology Sector
Cleantech With All the Trimmings
Green Chip Editor Nick Hodge reviews the recent good news for the green sector and why cleantech investors should give thanks this week. » Read more

Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Solar Energy
Residential Solar Installers
Rooftop Solar in for a Boost
Green Chip Review Editor Nick Hodge discusses the residential solar boom in California and elsewhere, and the one company poised to take advantage. » Read more

Posted: Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Water
Gas Drilling in Appalachia Produces Harmful Wastewater
The Downside of Water Mining
Green Chip Contributor Hilary Stingley discusses the Downside of Water Mining » Read more

Posted: Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Wind Energy
Birth of the Supergrid
9 Nations and 20 Companies Plan Europe's Clean Power Future
Editor Sam Hopkins uncovers the investing opportunities in burgeoning plans to develop a pan-European power grid. » Read more

Posted: Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Sign up for the FREE Green Chip Review e-Letter...


...and lock into renewable energy's most lucrative investments.

You'll hear 'em here first.

You'll immediately receive Wind Energy Investments--our breakthrough report from alternative energy expert Jeff Siegel.

Renewable Energy Capacities by Country

Green Chip contributor Hilary Stingley shares several lists showing renewable energy capacities in multiple countries by technology.

Read the Grid Parity Blog
By Green Chip Stocks

Recent Posts
Colorado Passes New Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)
Pickens Plan: Game Back On
Cash For Caulkers
Arizona Anti-Solar Bill Defeated
Arizona Solar Bill

Help spread the word on just how fast the world's energy consumption is increasing and how much CO2 is released into the atmosphere as a result.

Display the Alternative Energy Clock on your web site or blog. It's easy. Learn how here.

Canadian Province Says "No" to Coal...

You thought the U.S. Government was intrusive?

Right now, Canada's new "Green ATF" is closing down coal/oil power plants all over British Columbia...

While funneling over $30 billion to companies of their choosing to pick up the slack.

Find out here which company will more than double in size as coal and oil are switched off.


Green Chip Stocks, Copyright © 2010, Angel Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Site Map | Contact | Home

Wind-farm stimulus funds raise storm in Senate. Federal money sent overseas still creates U.S. jobs, White House says...

WASHINGTON - The Energy Department warned yesterday that Sen. Sherrod Brown's demand to temporarily suspend the use of federal stimulus dollars for clean-energy projects would "cause immediate layoffs" of workers across the country.

In a sharp exchange between the Obama administration and Senate Democrats, Stephanie Mueller, a spokeswoman for the Energy Department, said that "other countries are not pressing the pause button on clean-energy industries, and they will move quickly to capture America's share of the global market while we sit on the sidelines."

The agency reacted just hours after Brown and three other Democratic senators introduced a bill that would prevent money from last year's $787 billion economic stimulus package from being used by foreign companies to build wind turbines and other clean-energy components outside the U.S.

Brown and the other senators - Charles E. Schumer of New York, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Jon Tester of Montana - also asked Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to "place a moratorium on distribution" of clean-energy grants from the stimulus package "until our legislation becomes law."

In particular, they objected to a $1.5 billion wind farm planned for western Texas that the senators said would use 240 wind turbines manufactured in China and create 3,000 jobs abroad. Backers of the project, which include two U.S. companies and one Chinese company, have said they would seek $450 million in federal stimulus money to complete the project, which would supply clean electricity to 180,000 customers.

"We cannot sit idly by while China races to the forefront of clean-energy production at the expense of U.S. manufacturing, U.S. jobs and U.S. energy independence," Brown said. "And we certainly can't shoot ourselves in the foot by helping to finance Chinese clean-energy production. Taxpayers expect the government to use their dollars to support American jobs."

But the four Democrats quickly came under fire from not only the Obama administration, but also advocates of wind energy and organizers of the Texas wind farm.

Cappy McGarr, managing partner of U.S. Renewable Energy Group, one of the two American companies involved in the Texas wind farm, said in a statement that "the vast majority" of the jobs created by the wind farm "will be located in the United States and done by American workers."

McGarr insisted that "a minimum of 70 percent of each wind turbine" in the project, "including the massive towers and blades, will be wholly manufactured in the United States and made entirely of American steel."

The American Wind Energy Association asserted that suspending the program "would cost 50,000 American workers their jobs" and "torpedo one of the most successful job-creation efforts" of the stimulus package.

Meghan Dubyak, a Brown spokeswoman, said the

Ohio senator "does not support ending this program.

He just wants it fixed as soon as possible so jobs are created in America rather than China."

She added: "The point of this bill is to improve the program so that we create more jobs with U.S. taxpayers' funds, and the letter is aimed at raising this matter with the administration."

The four senators cited a report last month by the Investigative Reporting Workshop, a project of the American University School of Communications, that 73 percent of the $1.9 billion in wind-energy grants since September have gone to foreign-owned companies.

But administration officials circulated their own analysis that asserted, "it is mistaken to conclude that, because many of the projects have foreign parent companies, the funds are going abroad or the jobs are created abroad. They are not."

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Thursday, March 4, 2010 2:53 AM
By Jack Torry
jtorry@dispatch.com