With the passage of House Bill 562, a wind farm is defined as an installation of wind turbines and their associated facilities, all sharing a single interconnection to the electrical transmission grid. Wind farms, and those entities responsible for their respective siting approval, are further classified based on aggregate megawatt generation capacity. These classifications are:
Utility Scale Wind Farm – Although not specifically defined in H.B. 562, but referred to in other sections of the Ohio Revised Code, the OPSB already has authority to approve and certify wind farm projects with an aggregate generation capacity over 50 megawatts. Rules and regulations governing approval of other utility-scale transmission and generation technology (coal, nuclear and natural gas turbines) will be applied to wind generation at this level.
Economically Significant Wind Farm – An Economically Significant Wind Farm (ESWF) has an aggregate generation capacity of five or more megawatts but less than 50 megawatts. The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) has the authority to approve and certify ESWF projects.
H.B. 562 directs the OPSB to prescribe reasonable regulations concerning location, erection, construction, reconstruction, change, alteration, maintenance, removal, use, or enlargement of ESWF facilities. Issues concerning erosion control, aesthetics, recreational land use, wildlife protection, as well as environmental considerations concerning noise, shadow flicker and other issues must be addressed in the rules. Also, H.B. 562 includes a formula detailing wind turbine placement and setbacks concerning adjacent property lines.
Although project approval and certification are under the authority of the OPSB at the state level, local governments and citizen’s groups have full opportunity to participate in public information, outreach and input opportunities as part of the OPSB approval process.
Small Wind Farm – A Small Wind Farm (SWF) has an aggregate generation capacity of less than five megawatts. Local governments – county commissioners, township trustees, a municipality and/or their respective board of zoning appeals – have authority on approving the location, erection, construction, reconstruction, change, alteration, maintenance, removal, use, or enlargement of any SWF in their jurisdiction.
Wind energy developers are working with utilities, government leaders and communities to create wind farms of different sizes, all designed to deliver megawatt-scale generation for delivery directly into the transmission grid. The process will give many communities access to wind generation on a regional, state and/or interstate level.
Wind energy is probably the first renewable electric generation technology to be developed widely on both the utility/transmission and on-site/distribution levels. Other technologies – solar, fuel cell, biomass – are being developed. Collaborative efforts between wind developers, government utilities, economic development and interested community groups will set the pace for a variety of effective alternative energy development plans for other forms of generation in years to come.
For additional information about Utility Wind please visit the websites below: American Wind Energy Association (AWEA): Utilities and Wind Power
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Renewable Energy (EERE): US 2007 Annual Report on U.S. Wind Power, Installation, Cost and Performance Trends
Utility Wind Integration Group (UWIG)