Amidst all the discussion about wind energy and Honey Creek Wind, mention of the benefits of wind energy, and the benefits to Crawford County, seems to be getting lost in the discourse.

Crawford County’s alternative energy zone designation has ensured that residents of this county will receive significant economic benefits from any renewable energy project that is built. These include a guaranteed amount of $9,000 per megawatt to the county (for Honey Creek Wind, this amounts to $2.7 million per year); a Road Use and Maintenance Agreement that guarantees roads will be repaired and/or improved when construction is complete; fire/emergency responder training and equipment; a partnership with a local university to educate students for renewable energy careers; and the commitment that at least 50% of the construction workers building a local project will be Ohio-domiciled laborers.

Furthermore, Honey Creek Wind is striving to be a strong community partner by supporting initiatives that benefit businesses, non-profits, communities, and families. This is our good faith effort to support the community we are invested in. During our years here, we have made many contributions that have supported families, businesses, non-profits, and EMS and volunteer fire departments. This is because we believe that as active members in this community, it is our responsibility to support the causes that matter to the folks who live here.

A wind project here would also create benefits well beyond Crawford County. Wind energy is a clean, low-cost source of energy. Numerous studies show that the average energy payback time of wind farms (or the amount of time a wind farm must operate in order to produce the amount of energy required to build, operate, and decommission it) is just over five months. The process of generating electricity from wind turbines is emissions-free. And the power comes from a free, renewable resource, making it the most affordable source of electricity.

Why aren’t all of these benefits a larger part of the community discourse right now? Because those who do not want to see a project get built here would rather focus on claims that sound scary—most of which are simply untrue. For those who wish to closely evaluate these claims, you can find a lot of information from qualified third parties on our website at www.honeycreekwindpower.com.

But there is one question I hope to answer clearly today: Exactly how tall will the Honey Creek Wind turbines be?

The exact size of the wind turbines used for this project will be determined by the specific make and model that is ultimately selected, but based on the models currently available, we anticipate that the turbines will be approximately 650 feet tall at the very tip of the tallest blade when it is in the 12 o’clock position. There is no doubt this is tall, but recognize that the height difference between these turbines and the 591 foot turbines at Paulding County’s Timber Road IV wind farm will be imperceptible. Larger wind turbines can produce more power, meaning that fewer of them will be needed to produce the same amount of energy. If you’d like to see a demonstration of how taller turbines visually compare to the older turbines that have been built in previous projects, we have created an interactive simulation online that you can check out at: https://tinyurl.com/2p9dhj56.

How deep will turbine foundations be buried? The wind turbines will have a base that is approximately 10 feet deep and 80 feet in diameter underground. As a point of comparison, this means the turbine foundations are buried no deeper than the foundation or basement of a home. The diameter of the foundation will decrease to 16 feet in diameter as it approaches the surface, so only this 16-foot footprint will be visible above ground.

These facts are important because this community is being asked to consider whether the significant benefits Honey Creek Wind will bring Crawford County families, the economy, and the environment are worth the project’s impacts. To make this choice honestly, it is important to consider accurate information on both benefits and impacts. We hope every resident of this county will have the chance to make a careful, informed choice about this important opportunity, so we invite you to reach out if you ever have any questions at all about the project. You can reach us at info@honeycreekwindpower.com at our convenience, and we will strive to respond quickly.

Julie Drennen
Public Engagement Manager
Apex Clean Energy
122 E. Main St.
Bellevue, OH 44811