Ohio Solar Project Listening Sessions Seek to Boost Projects’ Chances for Success
Proactive Community Engagement: A Path to Solar Project Acceptance
In the fast-evolving landscape of renewable energy development, solar project developers in Ohio are increasingly recognizing the crucial role of community engagement. Two prominent companies, Vesper Energy and Open Road Renewables, have recently embarked on a proactive approach to connect with local communities, hoping to smooth the way for their latest solar projects before formal regulatory processes begin.
Overcoming Local Opposition: The Importance of Listening
The solar industry in Ohio has faced significant local opposition in recent years, often stoked by fossil fuel interests and empowered by the state’s 2021 Senate Bill 52. This law has given anti-solar groups the ability to ban many renewable energy projects or pressure local officials to oppose them.
“I think it will be a trend,” to seek community input early on, especially if it helps lessen local opposition, said Jane Harf, executive director for Green Energy Ohio, which counts multiple solar developers among its members. However, Harf added, “it’s really hard to quantify opposition.” A minority of vocal opponents can often apply more pressure to local officials than a majority of supporters or neutral parties.
Vesper Energy and Open Road Renewables are taking a different approach, aiming to proactively engage with communities before submitting their formal applications to the Ohio Power Siting Board. Lindsey Workman, community affairs manager for Vesper Energy, emphasized the company’s commitment to being “good neighbors,” holding three meet-and-greet sessions in Greene County for its proposed Aviation Energy Center project and meeting with township trustees.
Similarly, Open Road Renewables hosted a series of listening tour sessions in Logan County to learn about community issues and residents’ concerns related to its proposed Grange Solar project. As Doug Herling, a vice president for Open Road Renewables, explained, “We’ve been putting a very heavy emphasis on public engagement and, more importantly, listening to concerns from as many stakeholders as we can in the community.”
Gathering Diverse Perspectives
To ensure a balanced and inclusive process, the companies enlisted the help of external consultants to facilitate the listening sessions. Patricia Hicks, who heads the Columbus-based Outcomes Management Group, described the team’s approach: “You want to make sure that you don’t just get one group of people providing information. You don’t want to have a biased listening group.”
During the sessions, participants were asked a mix of closed- and open-ended questions, allowing for a range of feedback, both positive and negative. Hicks’ firm is now working to compile a comprehensive report on the community input, which the developers plan to use to guide project design and commitments.
“Getting feedback earlier in the process can help the company tailor the project to deal with specific concerns, versus waiting to negotiate more permit conditions later,” Herling said. The report will also strengthen the community concerns section of the project’s power siting board application, he added.
Addressing Legitimate Concerns and Combating Misinformation
The listening sessions have revealed both legitimate concerns from community members and the prevalence of misinformation. Kate LeVesconte, a local resident and member of a pro-solar group, praised Vesper Energy’s willingness to listen to feedback, noting that the company is “interacting with legitimate concerns and not disinformation-driven fear.”
However, LeVesconte added that she often hears false claims about solar project impacts, such as contamination and the inability to restore farmland. “We’re still facing an uphill battle regarding this relatively conservative area feeling that solar farms are probably not good for prime agricultural land,” she said.
Patricia Hicks observed that a significant percentage of session attendees and survey respondents relied on information from social media, rather than verified sources. “And they had information that had been spoon-fed to them,” she said, underscoring the challenge of combating misinformation.
Building Trust and Transparency
The companies’ proactive engagement efforts are not just about addressing concerns; they are also bets that listening now can save headaches later. Vesper Energy and Open Road Renewables hope that their willingness to hear community voices and incorporate feedback will lay the groundwork for trust and transparency.
Vesper Energy, for instance, has already committed to several project design changes based on community input, such as ensuring the Aviation Energy Center project won’t border non-participating landowners’ properties on more than one side and increasing setbacks from residential areas and public lands. The company has also donated nearly $40,000 to support various nonprofit organizations in Greene County.
“We care about the feedback, and that’s what we heard,” Workman said. “We’re trying to make sure that we become good neighbors.”
Navigating the Regulatory Landscape
The companies’ community engagement efforts come before they must hold two mandatory public information meetings required by the updated Ohio Power Siting Board rule, which took effect in May 2024. Open Road Renewables plans to submit its application for the Grange Solar project in September, with a potential decision from the siting board by the end of next year.
Vesper Energy, meanwhile, is still navigating the regulatory process for its Kingwood Solar project, which was previously rejected by the siting board due to substantial local opposition. The company is appealing the decision to the Ohio Supreme Court, arguing that the board’s assessment of the public interest should extend beyond just the numbers of comments for and against the project.
“This commitment to community collaboration is our guiding principle,” Workman said. “Our goal is to get it right, however long that takes.”
As solar developers in Ohio navigate the complex landscape of community engagement and regulatory approval, Vesper Energy and Open Road Renewables are setting a new standard. By proactively listening to local voices and incorporating community feedback, they hope to build the trust and support necessary for their projects to succeed.
Harnessing the Power of Renewable Energy for Ohio’s Future
The work of these solar developers aligns with the mission of Joint Action for Water, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable water and sanitation solutions, community engagement, and policy advocacy. By fostering open communication and addressing legitimate concerns, these efforts can help pave the way for increased renewable energy deployment in Ohio, contributing to a cleaner, more resilient energy future for the state.
As the solar industry continues to evolve, the lessons learned from these community engagement initiatives can serve as a model for other developers seeking to navigate the complexities of local opposition and regulatory hurdles. By prioritizing transparency, adaptability, and a genuine commitment to being good neighbors, solar projects in Ohio can unlock the significant benefits of renewable energy while strengthening the bond between industry and community.
