Ohio to welcome one of country's largest solar farms despite local resistance

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Madison County will soon welcome one of the country's largest solar farms, but some local officials aren't happy about the project.

Savion, a solar and energy storage company, submitted a project application to the Ohio Power Siting Board in 2022. It proposed an 800-megawatt solar-powered generating facility and 300-megawatt battery storage facility occupying about 4,400 acres along State Route 29. The property, owned in part by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, spreads across Deercreek, Monroe, and Somerford townships. At a March 21 OPSB meeting, the board gave Savion the go-ahead to move forward with the Oak Run Solar Project.

Despite OPSB staffers recommending the board approve the project application, some local entities expressed hesitation. The Madison County Board of Commissioners decided against the project in 2022 in a two to one vote. Deercreek, Monroe and Somerford townships have also opposed it. During a meeting to approve the project, two local officials spoke against the solar farm.

"The county commissioners have received countless phone calls, text messages, emails, letters, in opposition to this project," Madison County Commissioner Chris Wallace said. "I just want to state clearly on the record, that if this board is to approve this project, they would be doing so in the face of strong local opposition. I think, spitting in the face of Madison County voters."

According to a website for the Oak Run Solar Project, it is intended to provide economic development opportunities to harvest the sun as a stable cash crop. The project is estimated to create $250 million in tax revenue for Madison County over its expected 35-year operational life, with millions expected to go to local schools and the county as a result. Hundreds of construction and dozens of long-term jobs are expected to come to the county as part of the development.

Despite the income potential, a Somerford Township official raised concerns about farmland being taken out to accommodate these types of projects.

"We in Madison County feel that our contribution to alternative energy has certainly been met or exceeded," Somerford Trustee Jim Moran said. "Current prime farmland including approximately 6,000 acres or more are being developed now. If Oak Run is approved, it will push that number over 12,000 acres. If every county in the state of Ohio would contribute that kind of acreage to this type of energy production, the prime farmland taken out of production would be astronomical."

The OPSB allowed a representative to respond to concerns, which included the point that not all of the community opposes the project.

"Obviously, there was a lot of opposition to this," Nick Walstra from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio said. "What we have to take into consideration is the evidence that was presented. It wasn't necessarily unanimous opposition, there were some local leaders who expressed some support."

The project will feature an array of solar panels to be ground-mounted on a tracking rack system. It will include transmission lines, access roads, underground and overhead electric collection lines, weather stations, battery storage containers, and other facilities.

More than 44 miles of access roads are proposed for the facility. Solar modules from the project would be set a minimum of 300 feet from non-participating residences and 150 feet from adjacent roads and non-participating property boundaries.

A document outlining the project credits Senate Bill 52 from Ohio's 134th General Assembly for making the solar farm possible. SB 52 provided new opportunities for county commissioner and township trustee participation in the siting of solar projects in the county, according to the document. The document said the facility was grandfathered under SB 52, except for certain board member provisions.

Shell, more commonly known for its oil and gas ventures, acquired Savion as a subsidiary in 2021. The project has been under development since 2019. With the board's approval, it now moves one step closer to construction, which Savion has said could start in 2025.