Project Update

Grange Solar Grazing Center Withdraws Application

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.”

To our participating landowners:

Thank you for working with us over the last 5 years. Thank you for listening and collaborating, and for entrusting us with stewardship of your land as we worked to bring clean, homegrown energy to Logan County. And thank you, especially, for doing the hard work of standing firm in the face of opposition for something you know to be true and good. Change is rarely popular, and we know that, in this instance, you faced an extreme and unpleasant amount of pressure from people who opposed the Grange project. Their fears were unfounded, but they could not find it in themselves to listen. We appreciate the calm courage and admirable resolve that you displayed. We’re very grateful for your support and friendship, and we wish you all the best. 

To the community groups we’ve met in Logan County:

We’re glad to have met so many of you over the years. And we’re proud of the partnerships and sponsorships that allowed us to contribute to the good work you do. From the leaders of Logan County Chamber Commerce, Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce, Logan County Fair, Indian Lake Watershed Project, Indian Lake Development Corporation, the United Way of Logan County and many more, the care you have for your community is very apparent. We’re grateful to have been a part of your efforts, and we value all of the friendships we made. Keep up the great work.

To supporters near and far:

It can be disheartening to see truth get shouted down by irrational passion–especially when that passion is ill-informed and unwilling to listen or discuss. But we encourage you to keep engaging, keep having conversations, keep pointing to the verifiable facts and peer-reviewed studies that prove solar energy is a safe, clean, and reliable way to power our modern lives. We thank you for the support you gave to the Grange Solar Grazing Center, and hope that you will continue to support the other solar energy projects that are working to bring much-needed power to Ohio.