Misconceptions 

As residents of Eden Township who are either in or very near the foot print of the proposed Seneca Wind project, we are once again writing to help inform and educate the public on misconceptions with this proposed industrial wind project. We would like to share our perspectives as concerned residents who will be directly impacted by these industrial wind projects. Below are a few of the many misconceptions that we have heard and would like to address.

Misconception #1: I will vote “no” on the wind turbines.

It is great that citizens in this area want to vote “no” and are opposed to wind turbines, but there will not be a vote taken on this issue. Unfortunately, any utility project capable of producing over 5 megawatts of electricity must be certified through the Ohio Power Siting Board. The certification process that OPSB puts these energy projects through is lengthy and includes almost 20 different steps, but none of those steps include a vote by the local citizens who will be impacted by these projects. There is no local control over these projects. All control and approval of these projects resides at the state level with the OPSB. The OPSB will hold a local public hearing, another step in the certifying process, but that hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Misconception #2: These wind projects are a done deal because sPower, the developer behind the Seneca Wind project, has completed the Seneca Wind application.

While this fact, sPower achieving a complete application is true, it means exactly that, sPower has a complete application per the OPSB. A complete wind energy application is only reaching approximately step seven in the almost 20-step OPSB certification process. The OPSB is far from certifying the Seneca Wind project. All industrial wind projects must be certified through the OPSB before construction can begin. The point is that the Seneca Wind project is far from being built.

Misconception #3: The Seneca County Commissioners cannot stop these wind turbine projects.

Our county commissioners have the power to rescind the alternative energy zone contract that gives automatic tax breaks to every wind project that wants into our County. These tax breaks entice wind companies to come to Seneca County. Our Seneca County commissioners also have the power to pass a motion to intervene against the Seneca Wind project. If the commissioners rescind the AEZ, it will deter future wind projects from coming to Seneca County, and by intervening against the Seneca Wind project, it will add the voices of the Seneca County commissioners to the opposition needed to influence the OPSB to refuse certifying the Seneca Wind project.

As residents who oppose industrial wind turbines and the Seneca Wind project, we want everyone to be well informed. If these projects come to fruition, we all will be living with the consequences of these projects for the rest of our lives and for generations into the future. This is our one chance as a community to become educated about these projects and get involved before it is too late.

Residents of Eden Township (with more concerned Eden resident signatures than our last letter to the editor Oct. 16),

Jay and Shanna Price, Gary and Julie Lescallett, Ed and Theresa Clark, Ken and Linda Hetzel, Cary and Donna Theis, Nick and Sara Silardi, Joe and Diane Hudok, Rick and Sandra Hiser, Chris and Kristie Theis, Paul and Kathy Wise, Gina Steinhauser, Jan Sampson, Bob and Carolyn Manz, Gene Thompson, Steven Everhart, Judy Dorr, Dave Ziegler, Ron Brown