School May Get Wind Study Tower

German Township Trustees said their zoning code does not apply to, and will not restrict, a proposed wind study tower.

David Deskins, Archbold Area School District superintendent, appeared before the trustees, asking about township regulations that might impact a tower during the trustees' Monday night, Feb. 11 meeting.

Deskins said he is in talks with landowners near the Archbold High School-Archbold Elementary School campus about a possible location for the tower, which would be in place for 12 to 18 months.

He declined to give exact locations of potential tower sites, citing ongoing negotiations with landowners.

The trustees and Linda Lauber, German Township zoning inspector, said the township zoning code does not restrict public utility structures, whether they are publicly or privately owned.

They determined the wind study tower will eventually lead to a wind turbine, which will generate electricity, making it part of a public utility.

Loan

Deskins said the school district, which has been researching wind power for some months, is planning to apply for the loan of a 50-meter, 168- foot tall temporary tower from Green Energy Ohio, a not-forprofit organization.

If laid on a football field, a 168-foot tower would stretch from the goal line to six yards past midfield.

If the school district is successful, the tower will be installed free of charge. Deskins said if Archbold Schools were to pay for a similar tower, the cost would be $30,000 to $40,000.

The tower would be equipped with an anemometer, a device which measures and records wind speed. It will have datalogging equipment which will be powered by solar cells, meaning it will not require power from Toledo Edison's system.

The tower will record wind data from all four seasons.

The application to Green Energy Ohio for the use of the tower must be submitted later this month, but the loan won't be approved until later, so Deskins said there is still time to finalize a site.

An ideal site, he said, would be close to the Lafayette Street schools and have a clear view to the west and south.

Support

Appearing with Deskins at the trustees meeting was Lisa Arend, Fulton County economic development director. The county, and Northwest State Community College, are also working on wind power projects.

Deskins said so far, the school district has spent about $1,000 on the loan application process. Funding to support the project is coming from a anonymous donor, he said.

"We're doing the best we can not to utilize taxpayer dollars until we are certain this (wind energy) is a wise investment," he said

The school district is working with a consultant on the loan application. He noted the same consultant represented entities that won both to the available tower loans last year.

The district's chances of getting the loan of the tower are good, he said.- David Pugh