Removal of Wind Turbines Underway

Preliminary work is underway to remove the four wind turbines located west of Bowling Green near the Wood County Landfill. The turbines, which began producing electricity in 2003 as Ohio's first commercial wind farm, were decommissioned in 2025 after more than 20 years of service and reaching the end of their operational life.

The wind farm was developed by American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP) as a joint venture project of the City of Bowling Green and nine other Ohio municipalities on property owned by Wood County and leased for the project. After development, ownership was transferred to the joint venture. At the time of their installation, the four turbines were the first utility-scale wind project in the State of Ohio, representing a significant step in Ohio's renewable energy development and have since become a recognizable part of the Bowling Green landscape.

Crews began preliminary work at the site in August, including mobilization and removal of underground electrical infrastructure. Work will continue throughout the fall as the four turbines are dismantled one at a time. Large cranes will be used to safely lower the blades, nacelles, and tower sections to the ground for disassembly and removal.

Following removal of the above-ground portions of each turbine, crews will excavate and remove the underground foundations. The foundations extend approximately 33 feet below ground and will be removed through excavation without the use of blasting. Each site will then be backfilled, inspected, and restored.

The overall project is expected to continue through December, with final completion currently scheduled for mid-December. The schedule is subject to change, particularly because portions of the dismantling work are weather dependent.

The work will not impact public access to the Wood County Landfill. However, residents and motorists in the area may notice increased activity at the site, particularly as large cranes are assembled and used during turbine removal. The City and County, along with AMP (as the agent for the joint venture) and the project contractor are coordinating the work to ensure the turbines are removed safely.

Although the turbines are located on Wood County-owned property, Wood County is not directly involved in the removal project. Additionally, materials from the turbines will not be disposed of at the Wood County Landfill. The contractor intends to maximize reuse and recycling throughout the decommissioning process, including recycling metals, wiring and concrete, recovering oils and fluids when possible, and evaluating major turbine components for potential resale or reuse.

Following removal, the property will not be reused for renewable energy generation because of the County's future landfill needs and Plain Township's zoning restrictions on solar development. The City of Bowling Green is instead actively pursuing development of a new solar project at different locations to replace the renewable generation lost with the retirement of the wind turbines.

The removal marks the end of an important chapter in Bowling Green's renewable energy history while the City continues to explore opportunities to invest in renewable generation for the future.