Hearings set for proposed Republic Wind Farm

SANDUSKY — The Ohio Power Siting Board scheduled a public hearing on a controversial proposed wind farm that would be in Sandusky and Seneca counties.The public hearing for the proposed Republic Wind Farm will be at 6 p.m. Oct. 2 at VFW Post 5900 Ohio 778, Green Springs.The board also scheduled a second hearing, an adjudicatory hearing, that will be at 10 a.m. Oct. 15 at the offices of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Hearing Room 11-D, 180 E. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio 43215. During that hearing, the parties in the case will get the chance to present testimony and cross-examine each other's witnesses, the board said in a news release issued Monday.The board has not yet scheduled a date to make its final decision.The board said the Republic Wind Farm would have up to 58 wind turbines and would cover about 24,000 acres of leased private land in York Township in Sandusky County and in Adams, Pleasant, Reed, Scipio, and Thompson townships in Seneca County. The project is being developed by Apex Wind Energy. The total generating capacity would be up to 200 megawatts. Republic said 200 megawatts can power 58,000 homes. Apex said the project will generate 100 temporary construction jobs, 10 permanent jobs, and millions of dollars in tax revenue for local governments. Local birders have expressed concern about the effect the wind turbines could have on bird migrations.Information on the case can be accessed by going to the board's website, OPSB.ohio.gov, and looking up case number 17-2295-EL-BGN. People visiting the site can learn how to submit comments and how to subscribe to get email updates on the case.Reach reporter Tom Jackson at jackson@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @jacksontomMany homes in Republic have signs opposing a proposed Seneca County wind farm.