LOGAN COUNTY — A proposed solar farm in Logan County is receiving a lot of pushback from residents, who are calling on local officials to deny the project.
A public meeting was held this weekend to allow communities to express their concerns.
Roughly 100 people gathered inside Ben High School’s cafeteria to say “no to solar.”
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The “Fontaine Point Solar Farm” is proposing to install roughly 38-hundred acres of solar panels in Bokescreek, Rushcreek and Perry Townships.
“I knew I was going to have to look at this stuff for 40 years and I didn’t really want to look at it,” said Paul Schaller, Bokescreek Township Resident.
Schaller says if the solar farm is given the green light by the Ohio Power Siting Board, the open farmland behind and to the sides of his home will most likely be property for the panels.
Sustainable energy company, “Invenergy” is leading the project, which is expected to generate up to 250 mega watts. Daniel Vertucci is spearheading the project.
Vertucci did not attend this weekend’s meeting. “They specifically asked that I don’t attend and I wanted to respect that,” he said.
The meeting was sponsored by “No Solar in Logan County,” grassroots movement that is encouraging impacted residents to contact commissioners who can relay the public outcry.
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Ohio Senate Bill 52, which became law on July 12th, places state renewable energy development in the hands of the Ohio Power Siting Board.
“With regards to S-B 52, this project decision lies with the OPSB. That being said, the OPSB has criteria they take into account,” Vertucci said.
This is how the communities feel about the project.
“When you got this many people concerned about what their neighborhood, farms are going to be looking like, we need to be paying attention,” said Paul Benedetti, Logan County Commissioner.
Vertucci wants to personally hear those concerns and work with residents as they move forward.
“People are very accommodating, they let me in their house, so I’ve actually seen the view from their dining table, like ‘hey, this is where the project is going to be,” Vertucci said.
The goal is to incorporate as much residential feedback into their permit application research.
Vertucci tells says he and his company would like to submit the permit application to OPSB by April 12th.
If the board approves the application, the solar farm could be in operation by 2024.
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