Clark County commissioners formally oppose Sloopy Solar project, citing farmland and community impacts

The Board of County Commissioners of Clark County voted unanimously Jan. 14 to place on record its formal opposition to the Sloopy Solar Project, an OPSB‑filed solar generation proposal in Harmony Township.

Commission President Sasha L. Rittenhouse told the board she had reviewed public comments and tracked 410 residents opposed to the project and 130 in favor, saying that public sentiment helped shape the board’s judgment. "There were 410 people opposed to the project and 130 for the project," Rittenhouse said during the meeting.

The resolution (2026-0052) states the board’s findings that the proposed project, as filed in OPSB Case No. 25-0636-EL-BGN, is “incompatible with the general health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Clark County” and is inconsistent with preservation of agricultural land, rural character, and local development patterns. The resolution asks the Ohio Power Siting Board to deny any certificate for the project under Section 4906.10 of the Ohio Revised Code.

Commissioner Charles A. Patterson framed the county’s objection as one rooted in land‑use and property‑rights concerns rather than a blanket opposition to solar energy. "It is simple, it is a zoning issue," Patterson said, noting buffers between industrial and agricultural/residential land and saying he is not opposed to solar generally but is concerned about using prime farmland. Commissioner Richard L. Lohnes joined the unanimous vote.

The resolution text acknowledges Senate Bill 52’s county-level authorities but notes the Sloopy proposal is treated as “partially grandfathered,” leaving primary jurisdiction for certification with the Ohio Power Siting Board. The board’s action is therefore framed as a formal statement of county position for OPSB consideration; the resolution expressly reserves the county’s right to seek party status or other actions in the OPSB proceeding at a later date.

Public commenters and township representatives joined the meeting to urge farmland preservation. Harmony Township Trustee Daren Cotter and the Clark County Agricultural Society expressed support for preserving agricultural land and encouraged township and county officials to record opposition. The county noted receipt of public comments and township concerns as part of the record.

The board’s resolution does not itself change local zoning or directly block the OPSB process; rather, it is a formal statement intended to influence the OPSB’s determination whether the project serves the public interest, convenience and necessity. The resolution passed with all three commissioners voting yes. The board did not at Jan. 14’s meeting take additional procedural steps such as filing for party status; it reserved that option for a later date.