State board denies application to build 150-megawatt solar farm in Stark County

Stark Solar will not build a 150-megawatt solar farm in Stark County — for now.

The Ohio Power Siting Board on Thursday unanimously denied Samsung C&T Renewables subsidiary Stark Solar a certificate to construct, operate and maintain the solar farm.

The plan to build the solar farm on approximately 860 acres in southwest Washington Township faced strong opposition from local governments and some township residents.

“We are certainly disappointed with today’s decision,” said Chris Simmons, Stark Solar project manager, “and believe Stark Solar is a great project that would bring numerous benefits to the local community and State of Ohio.”

The company, or other intervenors in the case, could still appeal the decision, starting with a rehearing by the Siting Board and eventually an appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court.

Simmons said the company is uncertain of its next steps at this time.

The company estimated that the $200 million project would’ve generated over $57 million in tax revenue for schools and local services over 40 years.

Local opposition to solar farm led to project denial

An opinion and order filed to the case record following the Siting Board meeting explained that the project was denied because it does not serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity, one of eight criteria solar projects must meet according to Ohio law.

The board in the opinion said there are many benefits to the project, such as energy generation, job creation and protection of landowner rights, but the benefits do not outweigh negative impacts to residents nearby the project.

The board cited opposition from local governments and residents as reasons to deny the project.

“Upon review of the record, there is consistent opposition to the Project from each of the local governments where the Project would be located,” the board wrote. “The primary concern surrounding the Project results from the uniform public opposition expressed by the local government entities and their constituents who are impacted by the Project.”

Stark County commissioners and Washington Township trustees passed resolutions opposing the project.

“The Board attributes significant weight to the position of local government entities whose constituents are most impacted by the Project,” the opinion said.

Group Solar Free Stark, comprised of mainly township residents, was formed in opposition to the project and intervened in the case.

Members of Solar Free Stark submitted public comments to the case record and showed up in force to public hearings. They worried construction of the solar farm would take away agricultural land, alter the feel of the township and affect nearby property values.

The board said in its opinion that it took notice to opposition expressed at the local public hearing in August. A majority of people who spoke at the hearing were opposed to the project.

Jack Van Kley, an attorney for the opposition group, said he didn’t have any comment about the board’s decision.

Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@gannett.com. Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16.