Mahoning Commissioners held a public hearing to get input before they decided on whether to ban large-scale solar and wind farms in Green Township.

A few hundred people turned out to voice their opinion on shutting the door to solar farms in Green Township.

Alpine Sun, a Texas-based company that is interested in building a 150 million dollar project gave its pitch on how it can benefit the township and county and representatives asked for more time to come up with its plan.

However, most residents there believe a large solar farm will threaten their way of life.  

The Matador Solar Farm project in Green Township could be built in about one year, on 675 acres in Green township to produce renewable energy if owners get support from Mahoning Commissioners and Green Township residents and Trustees.

Company representatives told the crowd at Greenford Christian Church the solar farm won't be an eyesore, it will have landscaping, designed by a landscape architect, a 150-foot setback from roads, and 300 foot set back from other people's property, plus a water runoff mitigation plan and system.  

"I hope you can see our solar farms are a very passive industrial use that also preserves farmland. There will be no off-site noise and no extraordinary burden on social services or first responders. We will provide training for Green and Beaver First Responders and purchase special equipment firefighters need. We want to make sure the farm is designed to accommodate firefighting equipment such as adequate access and turning radius on the farm," Project Director of Development Mid-Atlantic U.S. and Canada, Fred Knoll said. 

Lifetime Estimated Community Financial Benefits provided by the company state the following:

Total Tax Benefit Estimate $42,000 million
Mahoning County - $12.5 million
South Range LSD - $26 million
Canfield LSD - 2.5 million 

Another company representative pointed out there is a regulatory body in Ohio working to enhance the best practices in the state with mandatory minimum standards.

One requirement is decommissioning.

Decommissioning requires a third-party engineer to estimate the cost of removing the solar panels and equipment and returning the property to its prior state.  A bond to cover the entire cost is required before any construction can begin in Ohio. Every five years that bond would have to be renewed.

"We ask for your patience and the opportunity to develop a solar farm proposal that meets local concerns, aligns with state standards, and serves the public interest. In all fairness we need time to engage the public and prepare the plan," Knoll said.

Knoll also talked about dust suppression during construction, working only during certain hours of the day, and notification when larger construction equipment will be needed at that location.

The owner of the property, Wayne Greier who is trying to hold on to his land, told folks his family will benefit, but so will construction workers, local contractors, and local supply stores, restaurants, schools, the township, along with children and families who have a cleaner source of energy.
 
"We can make us energy independent is a good thing, and if it helps the environment how is that a bad thing," asked Wayne Greier. 

But Trustees question the environmental safety, reduction of property values, and how it would change the landscape of the township.

One said the township is a rural paradise and deserves to be preserved for generations to come.

Trustee Randy Chismar brought up studies that suggest property values drop by 1.5% to 10%. He also does not believe the estimated tax benefit will materialize.

Plus he had concerns about a potentially massive amount of water runoff and how it would affect surrounding properties nearby and downstream. He did the math and believes there could be 80 million gallons of water runoff produced.

Others brought up the glare and the sunlight glint on flights and special precautions being used to not endanger flights by the Air Force Reserves at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station.

The company said it has reduced glare panels, but we don't know at this time the impact for flights.

Trustee Chismar brought out that the Texas-based company is owned by a German Parent company, and is likely an LLC filed which would protect the company from liability and could leave the township holding the financial bag if the company files for bankruptcy or runs into financial trouble.

Chismar asked Mahoning Commissioners to ban large-scale solar farms from the Green Township.

"Solar facilities that would fundamentally change the composition of Green Township, a change that we do not believe would be for the better," Trustee Chismar emphasized.

One woman believes folks should keep an open mind. In her opinion, she believed there was fear-mongering and pointed out people are afraid that a chemical might be used in the panels but is not being used at this point.

She also says research on property values was only for property within a half mile of the solar farm and was negligible according to the study she cited for homeowners more than a half mile away. 

A company representative explained there was no cadmium in the panels they used.

But others brought out concerns about lead and other heavy metals that could pose a problem if the panels were subjected to hail, a tornado, or in the case of a fire a toxic cloud of chemicals.
 
A majority of folks at the meeting are against the large-scale solar farm, with parent after parent speaking.

One man asked if anyone there believed they would get this kind of money in tax revenue, and others yelled back no.

For many, they don't want the beauty of their rural community ruined.

Not only do they worry about the safety of their children they are also concerned about the wildlife and where wildlife will be displaced.

Many are worried about proliferation.

Dale Reinhardt talked about visiting a high school friend in Illinois yearly and how one solar farm has turned into many in Wheatland, Illinois. 

"It started out with one solar farm of 1,100 acres then grew. It grew from 1,100 to 2,600 acres. You can't go from a crossroad to a crossroad now without seeing solar panels. It's a wasteland." Reinhardt said.

The Dunns Bridge Solar Project in Wheatfield, Indiana when completed will be the biggest solar array east of the Mississippi River.

The two-phase project will consist of 5,000 acres in that region. 

County Commissioners listened to all sides, and the board will make its decision at a later date.