Reps. Kent Smith, Skindell testify on bill to encourage wind energy development in Ohio

COLUMBUS- State Reps. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) and Michael Skindell (D-Lakewood) today gave sponsor testimony on House Bill (HB) 302, legislation that would change the minimum wind farm setback distance. This bill would return the setback rule to the pre-2014 standard which measured from a home, not a property line, and restore the minimum to 1,125-feet.

“It is my opinion that the Ohio Power Siting Board is more than capable of handing the utility-scale siting process, and to that end, the wind industry should be allowed to compete in Ohio, which means the setback issue needs to be fixed. The clean energy market will only expand, and Ohio needs to embrace this market shift. Indeed, we can’t afford not to do so,” said Rep. Kent Smith. 

According to Policy Matters Ohio, Ohio leads the nation in wind turbine manufacturing, but since 2014, no new turbines have been built here. That year, the state legislature passed a setback law that more than doubled the distance wind turbines must be built from a property line. Today, Ohio’s setback rule of 1,125-feet from a property line is one of the strictest in the nation. The result has been an effective moratorium on wind energy in Ohio. 

HB 302 now awaits further consideration by the House Public Utilities Committee.