There will be no industrial solar farm in the Indian Lake area.
Open Road Renewables has withdrawn its application for the proposed Grange Solar Grazing Center, the company announced Friday, Feb. 28. The decision comes about a week after the Ohio Power Siting Board staff recommended denying the project.
The 500-megawatt solar farm, which had been planned for Bloomfield, McArthur, Richland, Stokes and Washington townships, would have covered 2,600 acres and included up to 1.8 million solar panels. An outpouring of opposition and an organized campaign against the project from community advocates and local officials played a key role in the staff’s decision, according to the report.
Doug Herling, Vice President at Open Road Renewables, expressed disappointment over the project’s rejection. In a press release, he criticized opposition efforts, arguing that misinformation influenced public perception and pressured local officials to take a stance against the project.
“Here, an opposition group spoke loudly about their fears of solar projects and convinced local public officials to share those fears—even though they were based on misinformation or outright lies,” he said.
The 73-page investigative report issued by the OPSB staff on Feb. 21 found that Grange Solar did not meet at least one of the eight legal requirements for approval. Specifically, the staff ruled that the company failed to prove that the project served the “public interest, convenience, and necessity” as required under Ohio law.
The report considered public comments from residents, elected officials, and business owners. Opponents cited concerns about the project’s impact on views, property values, drainage, zoning and the loss of farmland. Others worried about its proximity to Indian Lake and potential disruptions to the area’s tourism industry.
Herling stated that although Grange has withdrawn its application, Open Road Renewables remains committed to advocating for solar energy development in Ohio.
Logan County, OH – In light of the Ohio Power Siting Board staff recommending denial of its application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need, Open Road Renewables’ Grange Solar Grazing Center is withdrawing its application.
Doug Herling, Vice President at Open Road Renewables, issued the following statement.
“This decision is a hard one. We developed Grange on the principle that a solar project should benefit all community and regional stakeholders as much as possible. We spent years getting to know the Logan County community. Those who engaged with the details of our application understood that Grange was specifically, and thoughtfully, designed to protect and improve precious resources like soil, water, air, and biodiversity while balancing agricultural, tourism, economic, and community interests. All legitimate concerns about the project were addressed and the benefits would have been spread far and wide. Unfortunately, some community members were swayed by fears that were entirely unfounded.
“Under the system created by the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB), their staff places great emphasis on stated positions of local officials. Here, an opposition group spoke loudly about their fears of solar projects and convinced local public officials to share those fears—even though they were based on misinformation or outright lies. In fact, every one of the opposition’s stated concerns was adequately addressed in the Grange application. And the dozens of pages of the OPSB staff report represent rigorous analysis and thorough fact-checking of every aspect of Grange’s planned project. But there is no such fact-checking of the onslaught of anti-solar propaganda, which caused local officials to make statements against solar. OPSB staff relied on those stated positions to declare the project not in the public interest, despite all of its benefits.
“Opportunities like the Grange Solar Grazing Center do not come along often. The project would have brought jobs, wages, and millions of dollars in annual tax revenue to fund local schools and county and township services. The agrivoltaics plan would have created a new generation of sheep farmers. The drain tile plan would have improved drainage in the area. The vegetation management plan would have supported biodiversity, improved water quality, and reduced run-off. We wish all of these benefits could have come to fruition.
“Our team is grateful for everyone who took the time to hear us out and let us earn their trust. Even though Grange has withdrawn its application, we will never stop working to make sure that solar power remains an important part of Ohio’s energy mix. And we are proud to be part of an industry that brings the benefits of safe, clean, homegrown power to millions of Ohioans.”
