The staff of the Ohio Power Siting Board has recommended denying the application to build the Grange Solar Grazing Center, a 500MW solar project proposed for Logan County, Ohio.
The recommendation follows months of opposition led by Bud Christman, the owner of a marina on Indian Lake in northwestern. Christman created the Indian Lake Advocacy Group, a tax-exempt nonprofit group that posted signs opposing the project throughout the county and hired an attorney to represent landowners against the project.
Area elected officials opposed the project, although the vast majority of residents who filed comments with the OPSB supported the project.
Developer not giving up
As Kathiann Kowalski reported, developer Open Road Renewables “is urging state regulators to view many of the comments as personal opinions rather than official government positions. Some local governments have formally weighed in, but Open Road alleges the county and some townships didn’t follow open meetings rules or allowed members with conflicts of interest to participate in votes.”
Former state Rep. Jon Cross, R-Findlay, has been one of the most active local opponents of Grange Solar, although he had supported other solar projects in the region. Cross’ opposition to Grange Solar came after he received $18,234.89 in campaign donations from Christman in 2022 and 2023.
Former state Rep. Jon Cross
Cross 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. After losing his reelection bid in last year’s March Republican primary, Cross is now lobbying for the Indian Lake Advocacy Group.
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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