GROVER HILL, Ohio — The Ohio Power Siting Board has paved the way for another large wind farm to be erected in northwest Ohio.
The state board recently approved construction of a 23-turbine farm being developed by Grover Hill Wind, LLC, of Greenwich, Conn., a wholly owned subsidiary of Renewstar LLC.
Renewstar is an affiliate of Starwood Energy Group Global, Inc., which the siting board staff said is a 28-year-old private investment group with more than 4,000 professionals and more than $60 billion in assets under management.
The Grover Hill project is to be built across 9,600 acres in Paulding County’s Latty Township, about 80 miles southwest of Toledo.
It drew some attention early on because some people noticed land being excavated before a permit had been secured, possibly for access roads.
In a Dec. 15 news release, the siting board stated that Grover Hill Wind “cannot construct wind turbines at turbine locations near where it conducted excavation activities prior to the board ruling on the application.”
“Grover Hill Wind must backfill, decommission, and revegetate these excavation sites,” the state board said.
The project is to generate 150 megawatts. It is being built adjacent to the existing 105-megawatt project operated by Northwest Ohio Wind.
In February, the siting board approved the transfer of 19 surplus sites for commercial-scale wind turbines from Northwest Ohio Wind to Grover Hill Wind Farm.
None of the company representatives for the Grover Hill project responded to requests for interviews on Tuesday.
“The company is very happy,” said Christine M.T. Pirik, an attorney with the Dickinson Wright law firm in Columbus that represented the company in siting board hearings. “They’re looking forward to construction.”
But Ms. Pirik and others in the firm who assisted her in the negotiations did not elaborate.
Chase Dunderman, co-founder of a Facebook group called Paulding County Anti Wind and Solar, said many local residents opposed the project.
He called the siting board’s decision “a disappointment.”
“We plan on filing an appeal of it,” Mr. Dunderman said. “It’s already put a lot of strain on our community. These are huge turbines. They’re going to be an eyesore no matter where you are in town.”
Another member of that group, Gin Hinchcliff, agreed the project is not popular among many residents.
In its report to the siting board, agency staff cited a “strong wind regime” and support from participating landowners and government agencies in its recommendation for approval.
Power generated by the turbines is to be put on the 13-state regional grid operated by PJM.
Grover Hill is a village of about 400 people in southeastern Paulding County, and is about a 90-minute drive from downtown Toledo.
It is named after former President Grover Cleveland.
First Published December 26, 2022, 3:57 p.m.
