04-03-2025
Solar project withdraws from Logan County after backlash
INDIAN LAKE, Ohio (WDTN) — A solar power project in Logan County, which received considerable backlash from the community, has been canceled.
On Friday, the Grange Solar Project pulled its application from the Indian Lake area, following a recommendation from the Ohio Power Siting Board to deny it.
Indian Lake residents told 2 NEWS they are thankful that the Grange Solar project is no longer in the county, even if that means losing potential job opportunities and millions of dollars of investment in the county.
'We want the beauty of the lake, we don't want any disturbance to the lake,' said John Ford, Indian Lake resident.
Sixteen of the 17 townships in Logan County voted against establishing solar projects in the county, asking for the commissioners' support.
'Indian Lake is a resort community, and we get lots and lots of summer activities there,' said Mike Yoder, Logan County Commissioner. 'We felt that it was going to hurt that particular industry.'
The Texas-based Open Road Renewables proposed the Grange Solar Project in October, aiming to bring clean energy and economic benefits to Logan County. The project would have delivered over 500 megawatts of renewable energy across 2,000 acres in several townships.
The company says a lot of misinformation was spread about the project and that's why it failed.
'You're saying that solar is somehow going to poison your water or kill all the wildlife, things that are just blatantly untrue,' said Doug Herling, vice president of Open Road Renewables. 'Folks have relied on things that have been refuted 40 or more times around the state on other projects, to continue to oppose projects.'
But Yoder says this misinformation was a two-way street.
'Those that were against the project were also talking about how Open Roads was not giving them accurate information about what was going on,' said Yoder.
Residents like John Ford say the promises made by Open Roads seemed too good to be true.
'They keep saying that it'll be great for sheep grazing and stuff like that,' said Ford. 'But if you actually drive around the solar farms, they're torn up.'
Since the Grange Solar project was withdrawn, the Ohio Power Siting Board has canceled all related hearings.
Logan County commissioners say they'll continue opposing all future solar power projects, as this reflects the views of the community they represent.
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