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Residents and attendees organize ahead of large solar projects; county meeting set May 28
Summary
An extended public comment described plans to organize neighbors against large industrial solar proposals, announced a community meeting May 28 at 6 p.m., and urged coordinated public comment to influence state siting decisions.
An attendee at the Morrow County commission session urged neighbors to prepare to oppose large industrial solar projects and announced a community meeting for May 28 at 6:00 p.m. to coordinate comments and strategy ahead of an open house on a proposed project.
The presenter (identified in the transcript as an unnamed member of the public) reported that Crawford County commissioners planned to vote on countywide restricted-area letters on June 6 and said there is a separate proposal for about 2,500 acres near New Cyrus. The speaker said a recent neighbor meeting (residents within a half-mile of a project area) drew several households and that the main resident questions were how county trustees and commissioners stand and how citizens can approach them.
The presenter cited a recent Stark County case in which a large solar project was turned down by the state siting board; they said staff noted the key factor was overwhelming local-government opposition, including county commissioners and township trustees filing opposing resolutions. The speaker urged residents that showing coordinated, local opposition matters to state decision-makers.
The presenter also said they had submitted public comments and a memorandum contra concerning an applicant’s request for a partial waiver of notification requirements, and reported that Matt Butler (described in the discussion as the administrative gatekeeper for the siting board) had acknowledged receipt and would post the public comment in the board’s public comment record.
Why it matters: the presenter framed the issue as one where local organization and formal public comments can influence the state’s review of large solar projects, and announced a local town-hall-style meeting to help neighbors prepare short statements for hearings and an open house.
What’s next: the presenter asked commissioners and trustees to consider attending the May 28 meeting to listen to brief resident remarks and coordinate outreach before the applicant’s open house. The county’s formal role or stance on the specific New Cyrus proposal was not stated at the meeting.
Quote from the public comment: "If you all have time next Wednesday starting at 06:00, if any of you would like to come, maybe give just a 2 or 3 minute, hey … This is what we're looking for."
