The project was initially slated to be commissioned by the end of 2008, but work stopped when turbine blades were found to be cracking on other wind farms across the country.
Lee County Zoning Officer Chris Henkel has said that with new parts promised, MWE now plans to work through the winter on roads and foundations and begin putting up turbines in early spring.
Ohio schools have been monitoring the project closely, as property taxes from the 74 turbines to be built within the community’s school district are expected to about double school budgets by 2012.
“It’s going to be wonderful,” Superintendent Sharon Flesher said. “Needless to say, we’re going to be thrilled.”
The Big Sky project is projecting 240 MW, which translates to an estimated $2.2 million a year to be split between Lee and Bureau county treasuries.
Lee County’s Supervisor of Assessments Wendy Ryerson said that counties generally get 10% and school districts 65%. Exactly how much that will mean for individual taxing districts can’t be determined until the turbines are built, Wendy said.
“We don’t want to count our chickens before they hatch,” Flesher said, adding that Big Sky could be the district’s salvation.
