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By 2024, Ohio had an installed solar capacity of 3,666 megawatts, enough to power almost 463,857 homes, according to the Ohio Consumers Council.
That same year, Ohio ranked 12th nationwide in solar power generation, leading all other Midwest states.
But as energy demand grows, energy costs are leaping and Ohio is slipping in standings. The state fell from fifth to 13th place from 2023 to 2024 in rankings from the Solar Energy Industries Association.
To build a big new solar or wind farm, developers need approval from the Ohio Power Siting Board, which is tasked with considering the public interest.
Exactly how, though?
The Ohio Supreme Court gets to decide. On Tuesday, they heard arguments on how to define public interest and how to balance local concerns with statewide needs.
— Laura
Cavs at Indiana Pacers: Darius Garland leads Cavs to 120-116 comeback over floundering Pacers
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Mostly cloudy, chances of rain
Energy case: Ohio’s Supreme Court is increasingly being asked to decide whether large solar projects serve the public interest, affecting Ohio’s energy future. Anna Staver reports on the cases that weigh local opposition against statewide needs.
Council debates: Cleveland City Council’s new term began with internal debates as Councilman Richard Starr opposed the rules due to lack of prior discussion and seeks more input on decisions, emphasizing community engagement, Sean McDonnell reports.
Today in Ohio: Now that Ohio legislators have passed a bevy of property tax reforms, they’re moving on to the state capital budget. We’re talking about what communities can expect in the process on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.
Ramaswamy running mate: Vivek Ramaswamy, the presumptive Republican nominee for governor in the 2026 election, has tapped Ohio Senate President Rob McColley as his running mate for lieutenant governor, Jeremy Pelzer reports.
Libertarian candidates: Ohio Libertarians are gathering signatures to run candidates for governor, U.S. Senate and other races, aiming to influence close contests and promote limited government, Jeremy Pelzer reports.
Equal rights: The clock is ticking for organizers hoping to place constitutional amendments enshrining equal rights on the November ballot, reports Mary Frances McGowan. The organization Ohio Equal Rights is currently gathering signatures for two proposed amendments.
Benefits bill: U.S. Sen. Jon Husted introduced legislation Tuesday aimed at addressing a paradox in the federal safety net: Americans who work more hours or earn a raise can end up worse off financially because they lose access to public assistance, Sabrina Eaton reports.
Fraud tips: Ohio has a new online tip line launched by State Auditor Keith Faber to report public benefits fraud, with multiple ways to submit tips, reports Mary Frances McGowan.
Justice Department: T. Elliot Gaiser, who was involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election, now leads an influential Justice Department office, reports Sabrina Eaton.
OD deaths: Cuyahoga County overdose deaths are now primarily caused by cocaine, prompting a shift in prevention and treatment strategies due to the lack of effective medications for stimulants, Kaitlin Durbin reports.
Chief of staff: Justin Bibb announced the appointment of Ryan Puente as his new chief of staff, replacing Bradford Davy, to lead Cleveland’s City Hall, reports Sean McDonnell.
NE Ohio earthquake: A small earthquake, magnitude 2.6, was recorded near Madison in Lake County at a depth of about 8.2 kilometers, with no injuries or damage, Molly Walsh reports.
Riverside superintendent: Riverside schools reinstated Superintendent Christopher Rateno after a newly elected board reversed previous termination proceedings, aiming to restore stability and community trust, reports Molly Walsh.
Service month: The Lorain Public Library’s Month of Service continues with knitting and crochet sessions to create winter gear for community distribution, honoring Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, Hannah Drown reports.
Lorain housing: Lorain County is hosting contractor qualification sessions to address the shortage of bids on federally funded housing projects, aiming to involve more local builders, Hannah Drown reports.
Doan Brook: Emily Kao has been appointed the new executive director of Doan Brook Watershed Partnership, focusing on watershed restoration and water quality efforts in Cleveland, reports Peter Krouse.
Home prices: Home prices across Cuyahoga County increased in 2025. Rich Exner reports Pepper Pike saw the largest dollar gain and East Cleveland the highest percentage increase.
Lakewood City Hall: Lakewood Mayor Meghan George is advocating for relocating City Hall to the former Board of Education building on Warren Road, with a projected cost of around $32 million. Cory Shaffer reports that is $8 million less than previous estimates to modernize the city’s facilities.
Succulents: Susan Brownstein writes about the rising popularity of succulents and cacti as houseplants, noting their history, types and care tips.
Cancer treatment: Researchers from Cleveland Clinic have found that bacteria in tumors may hinder immunotherapy effectiveness in head and neck cancers, opening new avenues for treatment, reports Julie Washington.
Hockey lawsuit: A youth hockey player is suing Team Ohio Hockey Foundation and USA Hockey for negligence after suffering a traumatic brain injury during an unsupervised locker room fight, reports David Gambino.
Restraint lawsuit: A Garfield Heights man’s death was ruled a homicide after police officers handcuffed him, rolled him on his stomach and pressed on his back while he suffered a severe reaction from drug and alcohol consumption, according to a lawsuit and the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner, Adam Ferrise reports.
Fatal shooting: Cleveland police are investigating the fatal shooting of Jason Bond, 22, who was shot on the West Side and later died at MetroHealth after walking to the hospital, reports Lucas Daprile.
Hotel death: Police are investigating the death of a 24-year-old woman whose body was discovered in a hotel room in Copley Township on New Year’s Day, Olivia Mitchell reports.
Ask Yadi: Yadi Rodriguez discusses the rising popularity of living offline, with personal advice on maintaining privacy and setting boundaries, emphasizing that not posting on social media is a valid choice.
‘Seussical’: Cleveland’s Near West Theatre will stage “Seussical” with a cast of 40 young performers from Feb. 6 to 22 in the Gordon Square Arts District, Joey Morona reports.
Sazani Oceana: Akin Affrica and Josh Cribbs are opening Sazani Oceana, a seafood restaurant in Shaker Square, filling a local void with dishes like grilled oysters and halibut, reports Alex Darus.
Melt return? Matt Fish is teasing a possible return of Melt Bar & Grilled, reflecting on its closure last year and his hopes to revive the brand in some form this year, reports Marc Bona.
Cavs bobblehead: A limited-edition Donovan Mitchell-Darius Garland bobblehead is available for pre-order, celebrating the Cavaliers guards with only 144 units made, Marc Bona reports.
Don’t forget, you can always find the latest Cleveland news by visiting cleveland.com. If you value the hard work of Cleveland journalists, consider becoming a cleveland.com subscriber.
— Curated by content director Laura Johnston with contributions by Cliff Pinckard.
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Cliff Pinckard has been with The Plain Dealer/cleveland.com since 1999. He has been a copy editor in the sports and entertainment departments, and also has been an online reporter and editor. He currently is an… more
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