AEE and Ohio AEE Applaud the Ohio Senate’s Action to Fix Restrictive Wind Setbacks

The change will fix restrictive wind turbine siting standards, generate hundreds of jobs, and spur billions in private investments in the state

Columbus, Ohio June 21, 2017— Today, Advanced Energy Economy and its state partner, Ohio AEE, applauded Senator Cliff Hite for introducing and the Ohio Senate for including an amendment to the state’s two-year budget that would address the Ohio’s wind turbine siting standards—the most restrictive in the country. By adopting a more reasonable wind setback policy, Ohio will become a more attractive place to develop innovative wind energy projects, generating hundreds of jobs and billions in private investments.

“Since the restrictive setback was adopted in 2014, wind development has come to a grinding halt in Ohio, robbing Ohio’s businesses and consumers of the ability to capitalize on affordable energy resources. Now’s the time for Ohio to reverse course and reap the benefits of jobs and investments from the wind industry,” said J.R. Tolbert, Vice President of State Policy at Advanced Energy Economy (AEE). “We applaud the Senate for realizing the importance of wind energy as an economic driver and now call upon the House to concur in this change and once and for all provide a common sense fix to the wind setback provision.”

By amending the wind turbine setback regulations, Ohio can capitalize on its abundance of wind potential. Analysts estimate that Ohio's onshore wind energy potential is approximately 55,000 megawatts, enough to power the equivalent of 13 million households.

“There is a growing trend among businesses, large and small, to power their operations and facilities with affordable, advanced energy resources like wind and solar,” said Ted Ford, President of the Ohio Advanced Energy Economy. “Ohio can measurably enhance its position as an attractive place to do business in the Midwest by supporting policies that reduce barriers to the adoption of these and other advanced energy technologies.”

Amending the wind turbine setback regulations would not only provide consumers with reliable, affordable energy, but would also bring benefits to the communities in which these projects are located. Wind facilities create new high-paying construction jobs and permanent operations and maintenance jobs, and generate millions in new tax revenue and land payments to support local schools, libraries, community centers, roads, and first responders.

About Advanced Energy Economy
Advanced Energy Economy is a national association of businesses that are making the energy we use secure, clean, and affordable. Advanced energy encompasses a broad range of products and services that constitute the best available technologies for meeting energy needs today and tomorrow. AEE’s mission is to transform public policy to enable rapid growth of advanced energy businesses. AEE and its State and Regional Partner organizations are active in 27 states across the country, representing more than 1,000 companies and organizations in the advanced energy industry. Visit AEE online at www.aee.net.

Media Contact:
Monique Hanis, mhanis@aee.net, 202-391-0884