Energy researcher and author Robert Bryce recently announced that there have been 735 rejections of wind and solar projects across the United States. He has been keeping track of the rejections in a database since 2015.
According to Bryce, “the latest rejection occurred a few days ago in Center, Nebraska, when the Knox County Board of Supervisors voted 6 to 1 to deny a conditional-use permit for a proposed solar project. According to an article by Mark Mahoney of the Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, the board’s decision 'drew applause from most of a nearly full courtroom at the county courthouse.’”
A number of the rejections have taken place in Ohio. The rejections have come from counties, cities, townships, and voters. According to Bryce, county boards of commissioners that have rejected wind or solar include Licking County, Mahoning County, Columbiana County, Erie County, Clermont County, Marion County, Logan County, Butler County, Allen County, Auglaize County, Hancock County, Medina County, Union County, Knox County, Crawford County, Seneca County, and Huron County. Numerous cities and townships in these counties have also rejected wind and solar projects.
There has also been statewide opposition to wind and solar in Ohio. Bryce catalogs Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) rejections of Cepheus Solar, Kingwood Solar, LightsourceBP, and Republic Wind. And in 2021, the Ohio Legislature passed, without a single Democrat vote, S.B. 52, which gave Ohio counties the power to veto specific projects or make themselves off-limits to renewable energy development altogether.
Opposition to solar and wind projects appears to stem from the concerns of local residents. Knox County resident Benjamin Dean catalogued some of the local opposition when he conducted an in-depth analysis of local responses to Frasier Solar’s application before the OPSB.
“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 wrote in his testimony to the board.
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%.
Solar generation facilities have swamped the Ohio electric grid in recent years. Six facilities have already been built, with another 37 approved by the OPSB. Several other projects have applications pending before the OPSB.