Rep. Latta tours Blue Creek Wind Farm

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Minutes after talking about the problems facing the state because of more stringent Environmental Protection Agency mandates that affect Ohio’s coal-fired electric power generators, U.S. Representative Bob Latta looked at an alternative power solution that has provided a huge economic impact in Van Wert County.

Latta, who has served nearly a decade in the U.S. House of Representatives, first spoke at a Legislative Luncheon sponsored by the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce, which was held at the local Elks Lodge. During the luncheon, the congressman noted the trillions of dollars spent each year in the U.S. to comply with regulatory requirements in this country, while also stressing the potential impact on Ohio’s power generation system from new “clean air” requirements.

He also noted the many changes facing Americans in the future, including a “massive revolution” in technology.

“It’s a pretty volatile world out there,” Latta told the approximately 25 people who attended the luncheon.

The congressman later toured the Blue Creek Wind Farm complex on Fife Road, where a number of people talked about the positive impact that wind turbines are having on the county.

Neil Voje, Blue Creek plant manager, explained the workings of the 152 wind turbines that make up the wind farm, while also noting several benefits of wind generation over traditional electric power generation.

Others speaking about the local benefits of the wind farm included Chamber President/CEO Susan Munroe, Lincolnview Superintendent Jeffrey Snyder, Vantage Superintendent Staci Kaufman and Derek Kaverman, general manager of All Purpose Contracting, which handles a variety of maintenance work for the wind farms.

Munroe talked about the overall economic benefits of the wind farm, and the potential for bringing in new development from companies interested in using alternative energy to power their facilities.

Paul Copleman of Iberdrola Renewables, the company that built the wind farm, noted that Iberdrola is currently building the first wind farm ever in North Carolina for a new facility being constructed by Amazon.

The school superintendents and Munroe noted the financial benefits of the wind farm, which includes more than $2 million in PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) revenues, as well as more than $2 million in leases to property owners in the county. Paulding County receives another $660,000 in PILOT payments from the Blue Creek wind turbines located in that county.

Kaverman was pleased with the amount of work being given his company by Iberdrola, including access road maintenance work, which has allowed him to substantially increase his workforce.

Several people also discussed the negative impact state setback legislation has had on future wind energy development. Voje said that, if current setback requirements were in place when Iberdrola was considering building the Blue Creek wind farm, instead of 152 wind turbines, the company could only have installed 10 turbines — not enough to make the project financially feasible.

Both Snyder and Kaufman talked about the educational benefits that have accrued from their partnership with Iberdrola. Snyder talked about how the PILOT payments to Lincolnview allowed the district to purchase laptop computers for every student in the district, while Kaufman noted the education programs developed at Vantage to train workers to repair wind turbines and related equipment.

Iberdrola officials also urged Latta to support continuing tax credits for the wind power industry, noting that the credits make continued investment in wind energy possible.

In addition to the Blue Creek plant, Latta also toured a wind turbine site and also visited two other local businesses: the StateWide Ford Lincoln dealership and Northwest Ohio Welch Trophy.