More and more cities are imposing moratoriums on the commencement of large projects across the state.
Over the past two days, stakeholders gathered in Columbus to discuss plans for constructing an 860-acre solar power plant in Stark County.
Although the final decision is expected only in a few months, this event marks another battle for control over solar energy in the state, as increasingly more communities seek ways to halt the construction of solar power plants.
Just in Portage County, over the past year, Shalersville, Hiram, Streetsboro, Nelson Township, and Rutland have considered changing regulations or implementing bans on the construction of solar power plants.
State legislation hampers the development of solar energy
In 2021, Senate Bill No. 52 allowed county commissioners to restrict the emergence of new solar power plants throughout the county. As noted by Medina County Commissioner Steve Hembly, they were among the first counties to leverage the benefits of this new law.
In Medina County, according to Hembly, there is no need to completely prohibit all solar projects, but it is desirable to have the ability to say "no" initially, and then allow exceptions.
"It's better to start that discussion early than to wait for them to knock on your door and spend a lot of money to get to you," - said Hembly.
Construction of a solar power plant continues in Erie County
Visiting Erie County, where near the Ohio Turnpike, construction is underway for the Wheatsborough Solar project on approximately 700 acres. When completed and launched in spring 2025, it will be able to generate enough energy for 21,000 homes – roughly the population of Rocky River.
Gena Shelton showed us how Apex Clean Energy has leased farmland for the next 30 years — one of several projects they are implementing in the state to help Ohio residents obtain additional energy.
"We connect directly to the power lines," - Shelton, Public Relations Manager at Apex Clean Energy, said. "So when people on-site use electricity, power from these solar panels can go to your TV, charge your iPad just like from any other natural gas or coal power plant in Ohio."
Shelton explained that the panels are not installed on concrete pads but are driven into the ground using special piles to make them easier to dismantle after the solar project is completed.
"The panels are simply removed," she explained. "We work very closely with our family farmers to explore what we can do with the land so that after the lease ends, we can return it to them for use by future generations."
Shelton mentioned that under the Apex Clean Energy project, an agreement was signed with Erie County to provide Margaretta School District with $640,000 annually for the next 30 years, totaling $19.2 million.
While owners of solar power stations and land leaseholders see savings and profits, it doesn't mean everyone agrees with this proposition.
Last year, Erie County voted to ban solar farms. Wheatsborough Solar, which already had approval, was built under the old rules and was not subject to the future ban.
Demand for electricity is increasing
Regardless of whether it's new production, data centers, or electric vehicles, solar energy advocate Will Hinman notes that demand for energy will grow in the future.
"We need more energy in the grid to meet the demand we are facing," - explained Hinman, who heads the Ohio Utility Coalition for Energy.
According to the Ohio Power Siting Board, the state currently produces only about 1,000 megawatts of solar energy. However, adding Wheatsborough Solar and other approved projects will increase this figure to over 8,000 megawatts.
"We don't have the sunniest state in the US, but technology has developed so much that even on cloudy days, these solar panels produce a lot of electricity," - explained Hinman.
Earlier this year, a solar farm spanning over 6,000 acres west of Columbus received state approval. The Oak Run Solar Project is expected to generate 800 megawatts and include a 300-megawatt energy storage system, making it the largest in the state.
Ohio State University is betting on solar energy
The Ohio State University has been using solar energy for many years as a means to reduce costs. Since 2012, solar panels have been installed on the roof of the university's main building. The success of this project led to expanding solar energy use across six regional campuses in partnership with an energy company that owns the panels.
Doug Pierson, Assistant Vice President for Infrastructure, Planning, and Operations, said that savings vary significantly depending on weather, sunlight, and the amount of energy they consume. Nonetheless, they more than doubled their solar energy consumption by adding more panels to nearby facilities they own.
"This definitely paid off," - he explained. "We buy energy from companies that own solar panels at a guaranteed price that is 2 cents lower than if we purchased energy from the grid."
Pierson said he hopes to see these panels in operation by December.
