Press Release

January 20, 2014

Contact Information:
Kevin Ledet, Chairperson
Greenwich Neighbors United
419-706-3997
kaledet1@gmail.com
www.greenwichneighborsunited.com
GREENWICH NEIGHBORS UNITED URGE THE
OHIO POWER SITING BOARD TO ADDRESS DEFECTS IN
THE OPSBS PROPOSED RULES
Greenwich Neighbors United (GNU) is a large and growing group of local
property owners who have joined together to promote safety and well-being in
their community. Among other things, GNU has been actively involved in
regulatory proceedings that are related to proposals by wind farm developers to
advance projects that will forever alter areas where people live, work and play.
Recently, GNU and Union Neighbors United (UNU) filed comments that raise
issues and concerns regarding the Ohio Power Siting Boards (OPSB) proposed
rules in Case No. 12-1981-GE-ORD.
In December, the OPSB invited the public to file comments on proposed changes
to Ohio Administrative Code Section 4906-4-08, one of the OPSBs rules. As a
result of legislative changes that modified the minimum distance or setback that
apply to wind farms, the proposed rules touched on the new setback
requirement.
The comments which GNU and UNU filed explain that the OPSB has failed,
since September 2008, to promulgate required regulations regarding such things
as the location erection, construction, reconstruction, change, alteration,
maintenance, removal, use, or enlargement, aesthetics, recreational land use,
wildlife protection, ice throw, sound and noise levels, blade shear, shadow flicker,
decommissioning, and necessary cooperation for site visits and enforcement
investigations. The absence of these required regulations means that individual
property owners that may be negatively affected by the ambitions of wind farm
developers must take on greater responsibility, at their own expense, to navigate
through the OPSB challenging process.
GNUs comments also explain that the proposed rules are in conflict with Ohio
law because they allow a wind farm developer to evade the minimum setback
requirement if the developer secures a waiver from property owners adjacent to a
noncompliant wind turbine. Ohio law states that no such waiver is valid until and
unless all property owners adjacent to the wind farm property (not just a turbine)

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execute a waiver and the waiver has been obtained pursuant to the procedure
specified by the OPSB. Senator Bill Seitz, Chair of the Ohio Senate Public
Utilities Committee, has previously filed comments with the OPSB which indicate
that a waiver is not valid unless all property owners within and adjacent to the
wind farm property properly execute a waiver. GNUs comments also point out
that the OPSBs proposed rules do not identify the procedure by which a waiver
must be secured.
These waiver-related defects in the proposed rules are of particular concern to
GNU since 62% of the wind turbines that a wind farm developer wants to place
near Greenwich, Ohio violate the minimum setback requirement and many of the
adjacent property owners are opposed to the wind farm.
Comments regarding the OPSBs proposed rules can be viewed through the
OPSBs website, http://www.opsb.ohio.gov .
To learn more about GNU, the work that it is doing to protect the rights of local
property owners and the status of the OPSBs proceeding regarding the
Greenwich Wind Park, an event is scheduled on February 22 from 5:00 pm to
7:00 pm at South-Central (K-8) School.

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