Testimony at a recent Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) hearing revealed that Frasier Solar may have difficulty getting its application approved for an 840 acre solar generation facility in Knox County.
Local opposition has been the basis for the rejection of at least two applications for solar facilities. OPSB staff recently used it when recommending the Board reject Stark Solar’s application as well.
The OPSB took testimony in a public hearing on August 19 in the Columbus offices of the Ohio Public Utilities Commission. One of those who testified, Knox county resident Benjamin Dean, conducted an in-depth analysis of local responses to Frasier Solar’s application.
“As of the end of the day on August 12, 2024, the number of Knox County residents who submitted comments opposing the Project outnumber the Knox County residents who submitted comments supporting the Project by a margin of 581 to 292, or 66.55% to 33.45%,” Dean testified at the hearing.
Dean also analyzed comments submitted by Miller and Clinton Township residents—those most affected by the proposed project. Those who oppose Frasier Solar outnumber those in support by 132 to 25, or 84% to 16%.
Prior to the recent hearing, the OPSB held three public hearings in Mt. Vernon earlier this summer to gage local support for the project. Dean examined sheets opposing and supporting the project signed by Knox County residents at the public hearings.
“The number of Knox County residents signing sheets opposing the Project outnumbered the Knox County residents signing sheets supporting the Project by a margin of 221 to 78, or 73.9% to 26.1%,” Dean testified.
Dean’s testimony was surprisingly affirmed by Craig Adair, the project lead for Frasier Solar, who admitted in his testimony that local opposition outweighed local support.
According to Adair, “Of the 896 comments submitted by Knox County residents, 345 comments (39%) are in support of the Project, while 551 comments (61%) express opposition to the Project.”
Adair’s analysis looked at comments submitted through August 15.
Some residents submitted multiple comments, but even taking those into account, Adair testified that 59% of comments from Knox County residents were in opposition to his project.
Adair did note that a majority of the public comments submitted to the OPSB were in support of Frasier Solar; however, most of the support came from outside of Knox County. Some came from university professors and students where Frasier Solar conducted outreach campaigns. Labor unions also have supported the project because of the temporary jobs available during construction.
The August 19 hearing was the final hearing on Frasier Solar. The OPSB will now examine the evidence and make its determination.
