A controversial solar project in Knox County has received approval from the Ohio Power Siting Board, which oversees the development of energy projects in the state.
will put solar panels on swaths of disconnected farmland in Miller and Clinton townships and in Mount Vernon. The total project is about 800 acres in size and will involve some 250,000 solar panels.
Sheep will graze around the solar panels in order to manage the vegetation.
The developer, Texas-based Open Road Renewables, said they鈥檙e 鈥渢hrilled鈥� that Frasier Solar can move forward.
鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to be a part of Knox County鈥檚 future and excited to help meet Ohio鈥檚 rapidly growing energy needs with reliable, homegrown power,鈥� said Craig Adair, Open Road Renewables' vice president of development.
Open Road Renewables for Frasier Solar to the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) in Oct. 2023. The project became the subject of serious debate among residents and a flashpoint in a 2024 Republican Knox County Commissioners鈥� primary race. Drenda Keessee and Barry Lester won nominations, and later seats, running on anti-solar platforms.
Two organized opposition groups, including one that appeared to be very well-funded, sprung up to fight against the project. They argued the project would ruin farmland and rural aesthetics, while also raising concerns about environmental contamination.
Adair said Frasier Solar prevailed despite 鈥渁n aggressive campaign carried about by shadowy interests to spread vast amounts of information.鈥�
Other Open Road Renewables' executives have pointed to increased organized opposition as a roadblock for solar projects. Earlier this year, Open Road Renewables pulled the plug on a solar grazing facility in Logan County after OPSB recommended denying the application because it 鈥渇ailed to establish that the facility (would) serve public interest.鈥�
Frasier Solar did receive support from groups of neighbors and environmental activists who praised it as clean energy or saw a solar farm as a better use of land than something like housing development.
Eventually, the state was forced to set additional public meetings to allow everyone time to give feedback.
Along the way, Open Road Renewables argued that the project would provide steady income to farmers who were choosing to lease their land to the company.
Now, Open Road Renewables reports that the construction of Frasier Solar will create more than 200 temporary jobs, while its operation will require several permanent positions. Once operational, the solar project every year, with about half of that money going to the Mount Vernon City School District. Tax money will also flow to Knox County鈥檚 general fund, the city of Mount Vernon, the public library syst