Pro-wind energy group hears updates

VW independent/submitted information

The Harvest the Wind group, which supports wind farms in northwest Ohio, met Thursday evening to hear updates on state legislation related to alternative energy, as well as an update on the Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation.

Craig Sundstrom, government and regulatory affairs manager for Apex Clean Energy, provided an update on Substitute House Bill 190, legislation sponsored by State Representative Tony Burkley that would rescind setback rules for wind turbines that have stifled wind farm development.

First stating that he is the “eyes and ears in Columbus” for Apex and those interested in wind energy, Sundstrom noted that the bill remains in committee, but added that feels some action will be taken on the measure when the Ohio General Assembly returns in September from its summer recess.

He noted that action on the bill could be driven by one of two things:

A freeze of the state standard to provide 12.5 percent of the state’s energy in renewable energy by 2025 ends December 31, while Ohio Governor John Kasich has said publicly he feels an indefinite freeze of the standard is not acceptable.

“So we think that’s his signal for saying he’d like to see some standard put in place,” Sundstrom said.

He also noted that several people testified on behalf of the measure, including representatives of Amazon.com, local Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Susan Munroe, and local school representatives.

Sundstrom recommended that Harvest the Wind members write legislators to help move the bill forward when they return in September.

Clint Myers, a member of the VWAEDC board, noted that, while there have only been a couple of meetings of the nine-member board, the local city-county economic development entity has as its first priority the development of a job description and the hiring of a city-county economic development director.

That person would then oversee economic development efforts in the county.