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SUPCO Approves North Central Ohio Wind Farm Project

The Ohio Supreme Court has cleared the way for construction to begin soon on a wind farm in Crawford and Richland counties. The court upheld the Ohio Power Siting Board's decision to approve the 24-thousand-acre project. The justices rejected claims by some residents that they were not allowed to present evidence the project would affect property values, increase noise and harm the environment. Kabir Bhatia of member station WKSU in Kent reports.

Residents near Mansfield say they were not given the chance to question the Ohio Power Siting Board about a 24,000-acre wind farm in Crawford and Richland counties. The Supreme Court unanimously disagreed, saying there was ample opportunity to voice concern about property values, noise and environmental impact. Ted Ford of Ohio Advanced Energy Economy says the state is going to see more wind-farm-placement cases in the future.

“Ohio law provides for a process for these things to be sited, and encouragement for renewable energy to be sited in Ohio. And as long as the process is followed, and people have their opportunity to speak out, these things will be approved.”

The court made a similar determination last year when it ruled against arguments that the siting board had ceded too much authority to its staff in approving a 9,000-acre wind farm in Champaign County.

Jim has been with WCBE since 1996. Before that he worked as a reporter at another Columbus radio station, and for three newspapers in Southwest Florida.