Oral arguments scheduled in UNU wind turbine appeal

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The Ohio Supreme Court will hear oral arguments next year on an appeal of another portion of the Buckeye Wind turbine project.

Oral arguments in the case of Union Neighbors United’s (UNU) appeal will be held on Feb. 8, 2017, according to the court’s website.

UNU filed a notice of appeal on Oct. 23, 2015, appealing the Ohio Power Siting Board’s decision to approve an extension in the first phase of the project.

Project developer EverPower filed a motion for extension of certificate in July 2014, asking the board to extend the certificate granted in the first phase of the project in March 2010.

The original certificate authorized the company to construct the project with development to commence no later than March 22, 2015. When the board approved the extension in August 2014, the certificate date was moved to May 28, 2018, which is also the deadline for construction to begin on the second phase of the project.

UNU filed an application for rehearing on the extension on Sept. 24, 2014, and it was rejected on Aug. 27, 2015.

Under development since 2006, the Buckeye Wind project proposed to construct more than a combined 100 turbines in Champaign County through two phases of the project.

Previously, the state Supreme Court affirmed the board’s decision in a case related to the project three times.

After oral arguments in the first phase of the project were held in September 2011, the court affirmed the board’s decision in March 2012.

In April, the court affirmed the decision of the board in granting certificate in the second phase of the project after oral arguments were held in December 2015.

In September, the court affirmed the board’s decision to approve an amendment to the first phase of the project after oral arguments were held in July.

By Nick Walton

[email protected]

Nick Walton can be reached at 937-652-1331 Ext. 1777 or on Twitter @UDCWalton.

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