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Debate on solar, wind farm ban heats up at commissioners meeting
Credit: by: Stan Boney. Posted: Feb 15, 2024. wkbn.com ~~
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Should large scale solar and wind farms be allowed in 10 townships in Mahoning County? The Mahoning County commissioners on Thursday evening heard both the pros and cons and will decide later their stance.
So far, 10 townships in the county have requested the farms be banned:
- Austintown
- Beaver
- Berlin
- Canfield
- Coitsville
- Goshen
- Jackson
- Milton
- Poland
- Springfield
About 100 people filled the meeting room at the Mill Creek MetroParks’ offices, some telling the county commissioners what they think about large-scale solar and wind farms.
“I don’t believe we have the technology yet to make it practical,” said Rany Dolack, of Austintown.
“We have to transition from fossil fuels. We have to,” said Austintown resident Patricia Dunbar.
Milton Township trustee Ed Villone said about 25 people showed up at the town hall meeting held last year.
“Most of them were larger land owners people that would be affected by this – farms and things like that – and they wanted nothing to do with any of this,” Villone said.
Austintown’s Debbie Woodford said future generations deserve clean soil, air and water.
“When we intentionally continue with fossil fuels while disregarding the benefits of renewable clean energies, we are actually taking that away from the them,” Woodford said.
Wayne Anderson runs a farm that’s been around for 200 years in Canfield Township, and he’s concerned about the loss of farmland.
“I strongly oppose the construction of any solar farms on farmland here in Canfield Township,” Anderson said. “If there’s a need for large solar facilities here in Mahoning County, I suggest building them on the abandoned industrial land in Youngstown.”
Nancy Schubert is a civil engineer living in Springfield Township who – despite the no-risk claim – was opposed.
“With proper engineering design, there’s really no risk to solar,” Schubert said. “My biggest concern – and why I’m actually for the ban right now – is because we don’t have the laws on the books right now to have responsible engineering for these solar plants around here.”
Also speaking was Wayne Greier, whose plan for a solar farm in Green Township was denied by the commissioners. Greier said people should ignore all the fearmongering, and instead recommended decisions on solar and wind farms be made on the state level by an unbiased and informed group.
The Mahoning County commissioners have the final say on whether solar and wind farms will be banned in the county’s 10 townships. A final decision is expected in one to two weeks.
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