It stands to be known whether the citizens and landowners turned out at Tuesday evening’s meeting because of optimism or skepticism — or some combination of both. But they really did turn out.

The standing-room-only crowd of about 80 spectators was described as “beyond my wildest expectation” by Chris Schock, executive director of the Clinton County Regional Planning Commission.

Paul Hunter, a key organizer of the informational meeting, said, “You (the News Journal) asked a question: ‘will there be interest?’ Well, ta-da!”

The wind power meeting started around 7 p.m. in the East Clinton High School library, following the commission’s meeting at 6 p.m.

Time allotted for audience questions — about 17 minutes — was quickly filled up by factual requests, but little negative talk about windmills could be heard in the chatter after the meeting.

However, comments about the noise and unsightliness of turbines have been posted on the News Journal Web site. At Tuesday’s meeting, turbine noise was likened to the hum of the laptop projector — in other words, not very significant.

The aesthetic merit of wind farms may be more significant matter of debate. To the top of the blades, a modern turbine can stand around 400 feet tall.

One online commenter called the structures “industrial eye-sores ruining the landscape.”

Karen Kayser, a Clarksville resident who produces all her own electricity from renewables, said, “When I look up at my … wind generator turning, I think it’s beautiful. Because I know it’s making power.”

A presenter at the meeting said no property values have been shown to decline from the placement of wind turbines.

Questions posed at the meeting include, “How much land is needed for a turbine’s construction?” (2-3 acres) and “Exactly how much income might we, as landowners, expect to see?”

The answer to that is heavily dependent on the business model, according to the presenters. One described about $8,000 to $16,000 per year for his corporately-owned turbines, and less with community-owned turbines. But community ownership has its draws as well, he said. Both options bring money into the public coffers, whether through taxes or through the direct sale of electricity.

Hunter and the commission will now offer their research and the record of community interest — symbolized by the messy but packed sign-in sheet — to wind power developers, of which there are many options, Hunter said.

The speakers at the meeting explained that each company has a different business model, and that generally communities choose which model seems right for them.

Jason Dagger represented Everpower at the meeting and P.J. Saliterman represented OwnEnergy. Dagger lives in Urbana, where his company is installing a wind power installation. Saliterman lives in Oberlin, where he markets for his company that helps communities install wind farms that the community owns, whether publicly or privately. Each model has different risks and rewards, they said.

State Senate made wind viable

“We don’t have the sun of Arizona or the wind of Kansas or places like that, but within [Ohio] we have certain advantages,” said Schock, the planning commission director.

“Because of the state incentive … it’s starting to make economic sense.”

Ohio Senate Bill 221 is that incentive. It requires power companies in the state to obtain certain percentages of their electricity from renewable energy — like solar and wind — and “advanced” energy — like through nuclear power or fuel cells.

By the year 2025, 25 percent of all power generated for Ohio would be through either renewables or advanced processes, according to Mark Linsberg, the head of renewable energy projects for Dayton Power and Light. Linsberg was present at Tuesday’s meeting.