Wind Turbine Proponents Look to Berea Section of Fairgrounds

BEREA — Proponents of a wind turbine at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds may have their eye on Berea.

Mayor Cyril M. Kleem told the News Sun that representatives from the fair board met with him last week.

“They have shown an interest in Berea,” he said.

Middleburg Heights turned down the fair board’s request to erect a 280-foot, 600-kilowatt turbine near its main parking lot off Bagley and Eastland roads. The eastern end of the fairgrounds is in Middleburg Heights while the rest of it is on property that is within Berea. Kleem said the potential site of the turbine appeared near the original one but westerly on property that is within the city of Berea.

Phone calls and e-mails to those who met with Kleem went unanswered as of Tuesday prior to the News Sun print deadline.

Kleem said any proposal would go before the Berea Planning Commission.

The proposal to Middleburg Heights included an educational component in which local schools and universities would study renewable energy. Kleem said that also was discussed at the informal meeting.

The project received a $1 million grant in federal stimulus funds. Other funding may come from grants to cover the $2 million project.

Those questioning the project at Middleburg Heights meetings included businesses near the proposed site. One included a communications tower provider on the fair grounds. Middleburg Heights city officials also questioned the height, cost and whether the site would create a wind farm.