Jan 15, 2025
Frasier Solar Project Photo by: https://www.frasiersolar.com/
COLUMBUS — The Ohio Power Siting Board voted 8-1 Thursday to approve the Frasier Solar project in Miller and Clinton townships during its meeting in Columbus.
After waiting more than a year for a decision following the OPSB’s public hearings in the spring of 2024, the board took two minutes to approve the 120-megawatt solar-powered electric generation facility.
Knox County Commissioner Bill Pursel said he voted to concur with the OPSB judges’ opinion.
Galen Smith, Clinton and Miller townships’ representative to the OPSB ad-hoc board, cast the sole no vote.
“The township residents were opposed to the Frasier project. They did not want industrial solar in the township, so I voted according to their wishes,” he said.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s representative went on record as saying that, “We vote in favor of the project, but we have concerns about the project’s impact to agricultural land in the agricultural districts.”
Voting members of the OPSB include a member of the public and representatives from the Ohio Departments of Agriculture, Development, Health, Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Agency and Public Utilities Commission.
Because Frasier Solar was grandfathered in under Senate Bill 32, voting members also include a county commissioner and a township representative.
‘We are not done’
Ben Dean of Preserve Knox County said the decision is not unexpected, as the OPSB staff report noted there was not unanimous opposition from the elected leaders in the community.
“We know from the outcome of the Grange Solar Project in Logan County, an Open Road Renewables project that was withdrawn because the OPSB staff report recommended that it be denied, that the unanimous opposition of the elected leaders in a community is decisive,” he said.
“The responsibility for this outcome rests squarely on the shoulders of the former Knox County commissioners and the Clinton Township trustees who refused to speak out in opposition to the Frasier Solar project.”
Dean said that Preserve Knox County Ohio will file an appeal. PKCO represents intervenors, landowners and residents who own or reside on property that borders the project.
Once the board issues its decision, parties have 30 days to seek an appeal of the decision with the OPSB.
If an appeal is filed, the board then has 30 days from the date the appeal is filed to rule on the request for appeal. Ultimately, board decisions may be appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court.
“We are not done. We will appeal this decision because, over and over again, our community has shown it is opposed to solar developments of this scale on prime farmland,” Dean said.
‘Truth has prevailed’
“We’re thrilled that Frasier Solar has received approval and is moving forward in Knox County,” said Craig Adair, vice president of development at Open Road Renewables.
“This project reflects our deep commitment to working hand-in-hand with farmers, government officials, and the local community to deliver significant, long-lasting benefits. From new jobs to stable income for local farmers to millions in new revenue for Mount Vernon schools and county services, we’re proud to be a part of Knox County’s future and excited to help meet Ohio’s rapidly growing energy needs with reliable, homegrown power,” Adair said.
Adair commended the OPSB for its “rigorous evaluation of this project on its merits in the midst of an aggressive campaign carried out by shadowy corporate interests to spread vast amounts of misinformation about solar development in Knox County.”
“Fortunately, the truth has prevailed,” he said.
Frasier Solar will occupy approximately 840 acres within a 1,395-acre project area. It includes associated facilities such as access roads, electric collection lines, weather stations, inverters and transformers, a collector substation, and a 69-kilovolt electric generation interconnection line.
The OPSB said Frasier Solar must adhere to 62 conditions designed to minimize potential impacts during the construction and operation of the facility. Conditions include:
• Installing agricultural-style perimeter fencing
• Implementing setbacks of 50 feet to non-participating property boundaries and 300 feet to non-participating residences
• Posting a decommissioning bond to ensure the removal of the facility at the end of its useful life
According to ORR, the project will require 200-plus construction workers and an additional three to five long-term employees during operation.
Frasier Solar brings new revenue to the county
The Knox County Board of Commissioners accepted a PILOT agreement (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) for the project in August 2023.
Once operational, the project is expected to deliver up to $42.8 million in new revenue to the local community over its lifetime.
Revenue includes up to $19.4 million to the Mount Vernon City School District. Funds of up to $1.1 million per year will go to various Knox County taxing jurisdictions.
Frasier Solar signed an agreement with Central Ohio-based New Slate Land Management to use sheep grazing for vegetation management at the project site.
Adair said the sheep grazing operation will create jobs for local sheep farmers and help preserve the agricultural heritage of Knox County.
Adair said the project will also help meet Ohio’s rapidly growing demand for electricity. Ohio’s grid operator has repeatedly warned of potential energy shortfalls due to inadequate energy generation to meet demand, largely driven by the influx of energy-intensive industries into the state.
AEP expects power demand in central Ohio to double in the decade leading up to 2028.
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Unions 688 and 1105, and the Ohio Environmental Council signed the approved agreement.
In addition to approving Frasier Solar, the OPSB approved a request allowing the New Market Solar Project in Highland County to add an operations and maintenance building to its facility.
It also approved a request made by Firelands Wind, LLC to add lidar equipment to collect meteorological data, associated access roads, electric service and communication lines, and temporary monitoring masts to its Emerson Creek Wind Project in Erie and Huron counties.
Additional information is available on the OPSB website at www.OPSB.ohio.gov.
Read the full article published at Knox Pages.
