The Indian Lake Advocacy Group, which apparently violated its tax-exempt nonprofit status by openly advocating for the election of an Ohio representative who’s now the group’s lobbyist, is seeking people to oppose the construction of a solar project in Logan County.
The group wants potential opponents who live near the proposed Grange Solar project to file comments with the Ohio Power Siting Board by Tuesday, Feb. 18. ILAG says in its Feb. 8 notice that it is paying for the $40,000 bill for its lawyer fighting the solar project.
“Our lawyer will represent you for free,” ILAG told potential intervenors.
ILAG received its federal nonprofit status in August 2022, just two months after its chairman, marina owner Bud Christman, started donating money to then-Rep. Jon Cross. Before last March’s Republican primary, ILAG posted on its website a call for its members to vote for Cross’ reelection.
Federal tax law prohibits nonprofit groups from engaging in electioneering, including soliciting support for elected officials. Checks & Balances Project has filed complaints with the Internal Revenue Service and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost seeking an investigation into ILAG’s conduct.
Cross claimed last year that he had secured a $5 million grant for ILAG to conduct dredging and weed removal in Indian Lake in northwestern Ohio. That grant was later put on hold after C&BP reported on ILAG’s electioneering for Cross, who still lost his reelection bid by 66 percent to 34 percent.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is already dredging and clearing weeds on Indian Lake, which raises the question why the state would direct $5 million to ILAG, which has never conducted such a major project.
After leaving the Ohio House, Cross became a lobbyist in Columbus. One of his first clients: the Indian Lake Advocacy Group.
Cross’ waffling on solar
Before Cross opposed Grange Solar after accepting $18,234.89 in campaign funds from Christman in 2022 and 2023, he supported the Hardin 1 solar project in Hardin County in 2021, touting it as an economic boon for the county.
Last year, Cross also wrote the Ohio Power Siting Board in favor of the Scioto Ridge solar project in Hardin County.
Now, however, after receiving the donations from Christman, Cross is opposing the Grange Solar project in Logan County.
Cross’ various positions on solar projects have raised questions among opponents of Grange Solar, particularly about the role of Cross’ wife, Christina, who formerly worked for the Columbus law firm Bricker Graydon, which is representing Grange Solar and the South Branch solar project in Hancock County.
Christina Cross contacted C&BP to add this comment: “For the record, I previously worked in the Corporate Law practice group of Bricker & Eckler. Had nothing to do with the firm’s Energy Law Department. I never had any energy clients or worked on any energy law cases either.”
Deciphering ILAG’s finances
Since ILAG received its nonprofit status, ILAG has not raised the $50,000 required for it to file a detailed tax report. However, its latest message to its members indicates it has spent $40,000 to pay anti-solar attorney Jack Van Kley for this work fighting Grange Solar before the OPSB.
If ILAG receives the $5 million Cross tried to obtain from the Ohio budget last year, the group will have to file reports that detail how much it paid contractors, key board members and other officials.
Correction: Christina Cross is now an attorney for Concordance Healthcare Solutions. A post Feb. 18 said otherwise.
Ray Locker is the executive director for Checks & Balances Project, an investigative watchdog blog holding government officials, lobbyists, and corporate management accountable to the public. Funding for C&BP is provided by Renew American Prosperity and individual donors.
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