Whirlpool answers questions about York Township clean energy project

CLYDE ― With the selection of a site for the new Whirlpool Clyde 2023 clean energy project looming, representatives from Whirlpool and One Energy Enterprises were met with questions and anger during a news event in York Township that the two companies hosted Monday.

Nearly 100 people who seemed to universally disapprove of the project and its implementation in their commune showed up at the York Township House. The hosts of the event were still taking questions after two hours. It was not a meeting of trustees and no action was taken.

Residents say they object on a number of issues, but primarily the potential physical hazard to the community, visibility disruption and risk to birds.

In January, Whirlpool Corp. announced it would install renewable energy sources at its washing machine and dishwasher plants in Clyde and Findlay.

The company has secured a 20-year contract with Findlay-based One Energy to add on-site wind and solar power to the Clyde facility. This will be the first introduction of on-site renewable energy to the Clyde facility, with the construction of three 4.8-megawatt turbines and a 6-megawatt ground-mount solar array.

This is a $40 million capital investment.

The meeting was led by Joe Hopple, director of engineering at Whirlpool’s Clyde facility, and Jereme Kent, CEO of One Energy.

“This project is different,” Kent said. “We’re excited to be working with the Clyde facility. It’s one of Whirlpool’s largest facilities, which means it’s one of the largest emitters. So it’s the biggest opportunity to make the biggest difference.”

There are currently nine wind turbines at Whirlpool facilities in Findlay, Marion, Greenville and Ottawa. These turbines provide 22% of the facilities’ electricity needs.

The solar and wind projects were announced in January and are expected to be online and operational by early 2025. The initial announcement included statistics that included Whirlpool’s Findlay facility, but for this meeting, the two companies had more information specifically related to the Clyde facility and a related project.

The project is considered a ‘behind the meter renewable energy project’. Once completed, Clyde Power Station is expected to receive at least 80% of its energy requirements from local renewable energy.

The companies say they are about two months away from signing land purchase agreements, which will “likely” happen in York Township, but several other communities, including Townsend Township, are also in the running.

“The plant next to it is not operating,” Kent said. “It would affect traffic at the airport.”

The solar array will be a permanent array on 30 acres. The Clyde Whirlpool facility is close enough to Sandusky County Regional Airport that the turbines would violate Federal Aviation Administration restrictions, which require a location farther from the facility.

Kent noted that all power lines, both solar and wind, will run underground.

Calls for an investigation into the trustees

“The trustees have sold us out!” someone shouted from the crowd.

This was followed by repeated cries for an ethics investigation, accompanied by an outburst of applause.

A large and vocal group of audience members were clearly angry about the way the borough trustees had handled the green energy project. Both Hopple and Kent said there was no connection between the borough trustees and the companies.

Hopple and Kent answered questions from the audience for more than 90 minutes and, when asked to meet again, said they would be able to provide more information in two months.

Further objection

An additional objection is raised by the size of the turbines.

The turbines are listed by the FAA at a possible 615 feet, but Kent noted that the statistics include possible elevation issues. The actual height of each unit is 595 feet, which is about 100 to 150 feet higher than most turbines in Ohio.

The objection is primarily about line of sight. However, the turbines have proven to be a deadly barrier to birds.

One woman in the crowd asked if there had been a study on endangered species. She was concerned about the bald eagles that nest near her home and regularly fish in her pond.

Bald eagles are not on the federal endangered species list.

Kent confirmed that there is research pending on endangered species and that it could influence the final selection of the site.

However, opponents fear that the turbines could also be dangerous to people.

In January, a blade fell off a One Energy turbine in Findlay.

Kent stated that the problem had been resolved.

“We spent a couple of million on the investigation,” Kent said, before detailing the manufacturing defect that resulted in them retrofitting the blades and replacing any worn bolts on every similar turbine they own.

“The blade fell straight down. That’s why we put them where we put them,” Kent added, further emphasizing the size of the property needed to build the turbines. “This will never happen again.”

Local benefits

Hopple said the community that ultimately receives the project will receive an annual payment of $200,000 to the local school district for the life of the project.

Whirlpool Corp. is also providing scholarship money, in partnership with One Energy, for each of the new wind turbines. The $5,000 scholarships will be awarded annually to students in their local areas who are pursuing a two- or four-year degree in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) program.

The Borough of York would also benefit.

The two companies agreed that taxes would be possible, energy would be returned to the grid if there was excess production beyond Whirlpool’s capacity, land values ​​would increase and that renewable energy would be green.

Kent also noted the short-term benefits to the community during construction. Each turbine requires about 90 truckloads of concrete, purchased locally, local labor and the associated economic benefits associated with any major construction project with contractor teams coming to the community.

[email protected]

419-332-2674

This article originally appeared in the Fremont News-Messenger: Whirlpool answers questions about clean energy projects in York Township