State must change wind-setback policy

In last Saturday’s Dispatch editorial “Provide forum for blowback,” The Dispatch accurately explained that Ohio’s wind setback policy is a “vital economic decision.” Unfortunately, the editorial missed the point that making our state financially healthy and attractive to businesses is one of the key objectives of our state biennial budget process.

The editorial mistakenly called for further delay on critical changes to Ohio’s wind setback policy. In fact, there have been more hearings and discussion than in 2014, when the current drastic changes were voted on at the last minute, resulting in Ohio falling behind in energy policy. Because of the 2014 changes, Ohio has one of the country’s most stringent statewide setback laws for wind power development.

Not a single application for a new wind farm in Ohio has been submitted since government regulations were significantly increased by the legislature in 2014, with no science to justify the change, no evidence of problems and no public input or legislative debate.

As an economic-development practitioner, I know that access to renewable energy is becoming a “check box” item for companies looking to expand or locate new opportunities. The proposal under consideration is a reasonable change to restore Ohio’s wind setback policy to pre-2014 standards and would result in more than $4.2 billion in local economic benefits.

We cannot afford to delay any longer. In fact, the Ohio Chamber and the Columbus Partnership support this proposal, recognizing the opportunity we have to attract and retain businesses.

By doing what the editorial suggested and delaying this important policy change, Ohio only falls further behind — and we cannot afford to do so.

Nathan Strum Executive director GROW Licking County Newark