Anti-Wind Farm Bill Gathers Momentum at Hearing

Recently, House Bill 401 was introduced to strip the Ohio Power Siting Board of its authority to determine where wind farms can be located, instead giving that power to local governments. Sponsored by Rep. Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin), the bill would effectively allow a township to veto an approval by the state entity that has historically been authorized to review applications for new power plants and energy production sites.

A Senate companion bill has been offered by Sen. Rob McColley (R-Napoleon). Both Republican legislators hail from northwestern Ohio, where large-scale wind farms operate, and where some residents have protested plans for new wind projects. This week, nearly 100 witnesses submitted statements to the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee in support of the legislation. 11/20/2019