Voters in Richland County voted in favor of a ban on the development of large solar and wind farms in 11 of the county’s 18 townships.
The issue passed with less than 53% of the vote, prohibiting these renewable energy projects in Bloominggrove, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Mifflin, Monroe, Perry, Plymouth, Sharon, Troy and Weller townships.
Richland County commissioners voted to ban the solar and wind farms last year, citing concerns over the loss of agricultural land, the lifespan of renewable energy developments and uncertainty if clean energy companies fail.
A recent report from The Ohio Newsroom looked into the background of this ballot issue.
Ohio Senate Bill 52 passed five years ago. Among other provisions, it gives commissioners the authority to restrict big renewable energy developments in a county’s unincorporated areas.
“So, we requested from all 18 of our townships, what would you like us to do?” said Darrell Banks, one of Richland County’s commissioners. “Eleven townships sent us back the resolution asking us to ban large wind and solar in the unincorporated areas of their townships, and seven did not. So, we did that.”
While Senate Bill 52 gives county commissioners the power to restrict large renewable energy projects in unincorporated areas, it also gives citizens the right to petition for a referendum if commissioners do, preventing a ban from taking effect until citizens have the chance to vote on it.
Some residents have raised concerns about government overreach and a possible negative effect on economic development in the county.
Benefits of renewable energy projects include diversifying energy supply and reducing dependence on imported fuel, along with reducing air pollution and creating jobs through manufacturing and installation, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
County-level bans are on the rise nationwide, according to the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University with more than 450 counties across 44 states issuing some sort of restriction or ban on renewable energy development.
About one-third of Ohio’s 88 counties have issued some sort of restriction on renewable energy projects. The vote Tuesday makes Richland County the 28th county to issue its own ban.

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