Marion County Commissioners approve wind energy restrictions for Grand Prairie Twp.

The Marion County Board of Commissioners has approved a resolution restricting the development of wind energy projects in Grand Prairie Township.

The commissioners voted 3-0 during their meeting on Thursday to approve the measure which, according to the language contained in the resolution, prohibits the construction of an "'economically significant wind farm' and/or 'large wind farm'" as defined in the Ohio Revised Code. The restriction applies to all of the unincorporated areas of Grand Prairie Township.

According to Section 4 of Ohio Senate Bill 52, which went into effect on Oct. 11, 2021, the restrictions "shall not apply to any application for a certificate, or material amendment to an existing certificate, from the (Ohio) power siting board." Senate Bill 52 allows county commissioners "to prevent Ohio Power Siting Board certification of certain wind and solar facilities by adopting a resolution designating all or part of the unincorporated area of the county as a restricted area."

Grand Prairie Township is the ninth township in Marion County to enact restrictions on the development of renewable energy projects, but is the first to place limits only on wind energy. The other eight townships passed resolutions limiting the development of both solar and wind energy projects. Previously, Big Island, Claridon, Green Camp, Pleasant, Prospect, Richland, Salt Rock, and Waldo township trustees voted to restrict both solar and wind facility development.

Bowling Green, Grand, Montgomery, Scott, and Tully townships have yet to pass resolutions regarding solar and wind energy development. A large-scale solar facility is slated to be built in northern Marion Township close the border with Grand Prairie Township.

Grand Prairie Township Trustee Jim Schertzer said township officials are open to the possibility of solar energy development. However, he noted, thus far there has been no interest expressed by renewable energy companies in locating projects in Grand Prairie Township.

The southwestern section of Grand Prairie Township sets in close proximity to the area of Marion Township where a proposed solar energy project is being developed. Marion County Solar Project LLC (MCSP) received approval from the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) in November 2021 to build a 100 megawatt solar energy facility on approximately 700 acres of land in Marion Township. The company has leased a total of 970 acres of land in the township from property owner Kepford-Gottfried, Inc.

In July 2022, the Marion County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with Marion County Solar Project LLC to build a solar farm in northern Marion Township. It's expected to generate $356,000 in annual revenue for the Ridgedale Local School District.