While a small group of area residents hoped to turn Tuesday's public hearing for a tax abatement requested by E.On Climate & Renewables into a referendum on the future of wind farms in Randolph County, the proposal was approved over their objections.
E.ON Attorney Mary Solada said the prospective western Randolph County wind farm will likely begin construction by the end of this year to be completed by the end of 2014.
E.ON Development Manager Lael Eason said the project area has been enlarged and additional leases have been signed with interested landowners. Eason said it is possible, in part due to the resistance a similar project has seen in eastern Delaware County, Randolph County will see an increase in the number of turbines.
County Attorney Meeks Cockerill said if the number of wind turbines increases, the amount E.ON pays the county through its economic development agreement will also increase. Under the current agreement, E.ON would pay the county $660,000 in four payments of $165,000 over a 3-year period.
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