LOGAN COUNTY — Open Road Renewables and the Grange Solar Grazing Center are responding to community feedback.
Grange recently published its Community Commitments Report, detailing the steps and actions it will take in response to community input and feedback collected during listening tours earlier this year. The four-stop tour, which took place between May and June, involved 118 participants from a variety of age groups.
The public’s primary concerns about the site included the lack of community benefits, drainage and flooding issues, possible soil and water contamination, negative impacts on tourism and property values, potential increases in property taxes and effects on wildlife.
Grange will generate $200 million in revenue over the 40-year project and $5 million per year for local schools and critical services, according to its website. Grange has also committed to $10 million in donations.
There will be no solar arrays within 2,000 feet of Indian Lake, and most of the project will be more than one mile from the lake. To potentially create more tourism opportunities, the Indian Lake Great Miami River Maintenance Program will clean nearly three-and-a-half miles of the Great Miami River to improve water quality, reduce flooding and enable new recreation in the area.
“Hearing from and engaging with the Logan County community is at the heart of our projects approach,” said Doug Herling, vice president at Open Road Renewables.
The Grazing Center is a proposed 500-megawatt solar project in Logan County. A dual-use solar and grazing facility covering more than 2,500 acres is proposed for a site near Indian Lake. If approved by the Ohio Power Siting Board, the facility will be situated in parts of Bloomfield, Richland, McArthur, Washington and Stokes Townships.
“We’re proud that Grange’s commitments are informed by concerns and feedback we heard from residents, business owners, local leaders, farmers, and elected officials during the Community Listening Tour and throughout our engagement with the community,” Herling said.
Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351
