Company hopes wind farms blow into area

Oct 23, 2009 (The News-Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- EYDVF | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Northeast Ohio might see 50-megawatt turbine wind farms in Madison and Thompson townships as well as near the Ashtabula County Port Authority.

Legacy Renewable Energy Development hopes to win permits from the Ohio Power Siting Board for a $120 million start of the three projects, especially for the one on Middle Ridge Road in Madison.

After meeting indecisively last month with possible Lake County partners, Legacy will meet again Nov. 30 with interested people in a session coordinated by Madison Township Zoning Inspector Jerry Klco and Madison Village Administrator Matthew R. Zapp. It will take place at 7 p.m. at Madison High School.

"We're disappointed in our results to date in our ability to acquire enough leases in Madison Township, but we will keep trying," said Legacy President Edward Fleeman, a longtime energy businessman and consultant.

"Leasing land and contiguous property is a fundamental," Fleeman said. "If we can't get property owners to do it, nobody will ever be able to develop wind farms. And from looking at maps of wind resources, Madison Township is a very good prospect.

"Its property owners are in a position to do something and Madison Township is full of people who could. But will they?"

Klco said property holders didn't get enough information at the last meeting, but more have expressed interest and raised more questions since then.

"This is up to the property owners, not up to township officials and zoning," Klco said. "It's new and it's fresh, and sometimes nobody likes that. Now they will tell us more at the next meeting than people learned the first time.

"This is of course a moneymaking operation and the Legacy group is planting seeds to let people see what's going on," he added. "We're hurting in the economy and this is an opportunity for Madison to make some income and generate something sorely needed in this community.

"This is a vehicle into a means to improve that. And so far the school district certainly likes hearing the idea," Fleeman said it is important to start with access to land where continuous wind is more probable. Once started, the group would connect with FirstEnergy Corp. and other entities to provide the electrical power for customers.

"As time goes by, I think we continue to prioritize the best wind farm work in progress," the Legacy official said. "But what we need is to develop contiguous blocs of acreage necessary to create a wind park. Leasing land simply gives us the incentive."

"In our phase 1 estimate of $120 million, we will create 311 jobs and generate millions in taxes. For lease of property there will be a payment (of up to $500 a month) to the owner who will also get 3 percent in royalties from profits. This plan could go to over $360 million in revenue, and some nurseries are looking well into million of dollars in revenue over 25 years."

Fleeman said initial economic impact could reach $350 million in revenue including job creation, including manufacturing plants which make turbines and propellers instead of using such equipment shipped in from overseas.

About a year ago, Legacy applied to the Power Siting Board for a $650,000 grant toward its initial $120 million start-up. Legacy and several other groups were rejected for a variety of reasons. So far, only two applicants have been approved, but they haven't started.

David J. Radachy, a Lake County Planning Commission senior planner who attended the first public meeting, agreed with Fleeman and others who say wind testing is very important.

"They need some meters to see if the wind is even feasible there everywhere north of Route 84," Radachy said.

Legacy's leaders include such people as former Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery; Bill Newcomb, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio retired chairman; and former state Rep. Ross Boggs, D-Andover.

The latter's brother is Ohio Agriculture Department Director Robert J. Boggs, a Roaming Shores resident and former state senator who is a voting Power Siting Board member.

The state agricultural chief said he has mixed opinions about wind farm applicants who get Power Siting Board approval.

"We are trying to spread our wings into renewal energy. And in terms of agriculture, this is another source of revenue for some farmers, much like any other cash crop," Boggs said.

"But we are encouraging farmers to be very careful in negotiations with a company's promises. During the start of natural gas on private properties, a lot of farmers were taken advantage of by people who were not at their best. We want to make sure farmers go into any activities with eyes wide open.

"Private investment in utilities do raise some questions. Wind generation is not a continuous thing in many areas. But it is a lot easier if it's rural electricity and a lot of wind generation is rising where you don't have the substation and equipment."

But Madison Township could match the needed wind velocity, Boggs said, referring to "sheer wind" in force, speed and shifting direction.

"Middle Ridge Road is one of the good places," Boggs said.. "If you've got sheer wind, you win. The wind comes in and blows across the land, hits a hill and starts to rise. It's a virtual sheer wind for a turbine. Plus, the wind turbines are noiseless."

A wind farm is proposed in North Perry Village and in Painesville Township but it is not related to Legacy.

To see more of The News-Herald or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.news-herald.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The News-Herald, Willoughby,
Ohio Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email
tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax
to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave.,
Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

More News:   Market Updates | Stock Alerts | All Trading News | Stock Index