Power siting board looks for public opinion on rules

SANDUSKY — The state board in charge of denying or approving wind farms wants public input as it reviews its rules. The Ohio Power Siting Board holds the authority to approve energy capacity and transmission infrastructure projects, including the proposed 71-turbine Emerson Creek Wind Project in Erie and Huron counties. The board announced it's looking for the public and stakeholders' opinions in its five-year review of its administrative rules. It's hosting informal in discussions in Columbus on March 10, 11 and 25. "(The board) has added these informal meetings to promote meaningful conversation and to provide more opportunities for all our stakeholders to participate in our rule-making process," board chairman Sam Randazzo said. The meetings' participants include state and local elected officials, community activists, utility and renewable energy developers and statewide interest groups and associations. The review comes at a time when the process for approving wind farms has come under harsh criticism from some locals who oppose Emerson Creek and other wind energy projects in Northern Ohio. Ohio lawmakers have introduced bills that would require a referendum on local ballots before developers can place industrial wind turbines in a community. Participants at the meetings will provide ideas on how to improve public participation in the siting process, improve technical application requirements and enhance construction monitoring and compliance efforts. After the meetings, the board will schedule three public workshops, with two outside of Columbus, to allow the Ohioans to offer ideas. The board hasn't announced the time or place for these workshops. The board will use the combined input to draft rules. The public will then be able to participate again by giving written comments before the board files the final version of the rules. Reach reporter Michael Harrington at michaelharrington@sanduskyregister.com, follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegister