Blue Creek wind farm project nearly done

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert County Board of Commissioners heard an update on Iberdrola Renewables’ Blue Creek Wind Farm, while also hearing a report on a fiber optic project in the county and decided on a way to ensure Dog Warden Rich Strunkenburg is more accessible to the public while he is on duty.

Dan Litchfield of Iberdrola told the commissioners that all 152 of the wind turbines now installed have been officially commissioned. “That doesn’t mean they are all running,” he said, “but it does mean they are almost ready to be run.”

Litchfield said 64 turbines were currently operating, with the remainder to be operational in a month or two. Of the 304 megawatts (MW) of power represented by the 152 wind turbines, Litchfield said Iberdrola has contracted to sell about a third — 100 MW — to First Energy, a major competitor of AEP Ohio and the company that has submitted the best bid so far for the electric aggregation program in Van Wert County.

Litchfield said 25 more wind turbines could be built in the Blue Creek Wind Farm, but noted that wouldn’t happen until all the 304 MWs is sold.

Efforts are also underway to contract acreage for another 152 wind turbines to be built in southeast Van Wert County as part of the Dog Creek Wind Farm, Litchfield explained, but said just 13,000 acres of the total 30,000 acres needed for the project has been acquired.

Those wanting to see that project up and running will likely have to wait 3-5 years, Litchfield said, adding that power costs are down now, making the Dog Creek project not all that economically feasible at the moment.

Litchfield did add that, while Iberdrola is canceling several other wind farm projects, it still plans to build the Dog Creek Wind Farms, which he said was a good project, thanks to the fact the $10 million substation now being used by the Blue Creek Wind Farm could also be used for Dog Creek as well.

Two things are basically needed to make that project a reality: a buyer willing to pay more than is currently being paid for the energy generated and a renewal of federal tax credits for wind energy.

Also Tuesday, the commissioners heard from representatives seeking to extend a fiber optic line that could link several entities together, including city and county government, local court systems, the Van Wert City Schools (VWCS) and the 9-1-1 data system.

Those attending the meeting with the commissioners were John Butler, VWCS technology coordinator; County 9-1-1 Coordinator Kim Brandt; and Van Wert Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming.

Butler said the city school district has offered to provide other local entities strands from the school’s fiber optic line, similar to what has been done recently with Central Insurance Companies, mostly for the cost of running the lines.

Doing so would provide all of the partner entities phone and data service, although the actual 9-1-1 voice lines would not be included, while Van Wert Municipal Court could also use the line for video arraignments and City Council meetings could again be broadcast live on the public access channel. More research is being done on the project, mostly on coming up with a contract between the entities involved in seeking funding to pay for the approximately $10,000-$15,000 in installation costs.

“This is basically a win, win, win for everyone involved,” said Butler.

The commissioners also recommended that Dog Warden Rich Strunkenburg add call forwarding services that would allow callers to better get in contact with him while he is on duty, although Commissioner Gary Adams noted that the current telephone answering system was sufficient for the hours Strunkenburg was off duty.