Chamber earns recognition for testimony

Van Wert independent/submitted information

The Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce’s participation in legislative hearings on wind energy resulted in the local Chamber’s selection by Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy as one of its national top 10 stories.

The local Chamber’s testimony on behalf of wind energy earned it a No. 4 ranking among the top 10 national stories related to alternative energy.

Susan Munroe, local Chamber president/CEO, was one of several local officials who testified on behalf of the economic benefits of wind farm projects during legislative hearings in Washington, D.C.

Munroe noted during her testimony that Blue Creek Wind Farms was the largest taxpayer in Van Wert County, paying more than $2 million in taxes to schools and local government entities in 2014, while also providing approximately the same amount in lease payments to local property owners.

Other county officials testifying on the benefits of local wind energy projects included County Economic Development Director Sarah Smith, Lincolnview Superintendent Jeff Snyder and Lincolnview Board of Education President Eric Germann. Lincolnview Local Schools stands to gain hundreds of thousands of dollars in Payment in Lieu of Tax (PILOT) payments from the proposed Dog Creek Wind Farm project, which is currently on hold because of a decision by Ohio legislators to increase setbacks needed for wind turbines.

In her testimony on alternative energy standards, Munroe asked legislators to halt efforts to freeze alternative energy standards, which required that 25 percent of the U.S.’s energy come from alternative energy, such as wind and solar power by the year 2025.

The local Chamber president/CEO said freezing the standards would have a serious effect on investment in northwest Ohio and asked legislators “why would you stop something that’s working just as the law intended it would work?”

Several Ohio businesses and the Ohio Manufacturers Association also opposed the freeze in alternative energy standards. Businesses opposing the freeze included Honeywell, Honda, Whirlpool, Owens Corning, the Campbell Soup Company and DuPont.

Munroe was pleased with the local Chamber’s national recognition, noting that testifying on behalf of local wind energy benefits was part of the Van Wert Area Chamber’s mission to “aggressively promote the interests of our business community.”