Open houses to showcase wind, solar power ideas

10/1/2004

A dozen sites in northwest Ohio are among 1,800 homes, businesses, and public buildings that will be open to the public nationally tomorrow for Americans to learn how they can meet a portion of their electrical needs by drawing from nonpolluting energy sources, such as solar and wind.

The tours are part of the ninth annual National Solar Tour sponsored by the American Solar Energy Society.

A complete list of Ohio tour times and locations can be found at www.greenenergyohio.org. That's the Web site for Green Energy Ohio, a nonprofit group that organized local tours. All are free.

In northwest Ohio, three tours are from 9 a.m. to noon: At the Geoff and BethAnne Rich residence at 853 Sand Ridge Rd., Bowling Green; the American Municipal Power-Ohio/Green Mountain Energy Wind Farm at the Wood County landfill along U.S. 6, west of Bowling Green, and the Bowling Green State University ice arena.

Six are from 1 to 4 p.m.: At the John and Lynn Witte residence, 2439 River Rd., Maumee; First Solar LLC, 28101 Cedar Park Blvd., Perrysburg; Decker Homes, 3923 Secluded Ravine Ct., Monclova Township; the Ralph and Leah Solterra residence, 1901 Curtice EW Rd., Curtice; the Anthony Palumbo home, 28765 White Rd., Perrysburg, and the Toledo Museum of Art, 2445 Monroe St.

Three are listed as drive-by tours only: Crim and Kenwood elementary schools in Bowling Green, and a home at 926 Seventh St. in Maumee.

Some 800 communities are involved nationally, the American Solar Energy Society said. The group said it expects to draw 40,000 visitors nationwide. Last year, more than 33,000 people toured 1,750 homes, schools, and other buildings in 45 states.