The Frasier Solar Project, which has stirred up controversy among residents of Knox County, has left many questioning the decision-making process behind its inception and implementation.
Mount Vernon City Councilwoman Amber Keener said that while the council was first presented with information about the Frasier Solar Project during a committee meeting on Feb. 26, 2024, Open Roads Renewables— the company responsible for its development— first initiated talks with Mount Vernon’s administration back in 2021.
“This was a committee meeting which brought to light that a portion was within city limits,” said Kenner. “I have been told however that the Administration met once with Open Roads about the project sometime in 2021, however no information from that meeting was conveyed to council.”
Despite the lack of an Open Roads Renewables representative presenting to the Mount Vernon City Council, Keener said the claims that the solar project was "hidden" from Knox County residents are overblown.
“Hide what from voters?” said Keener.
“I think that Open Roads has been very active and present within the community. From being a major sponsor of the Knox County Fair in 2023 to opening a storefront in downtown Mount Vernon to share their perspective of the project. I believe they have made an effort to communicate to the public at large.”
Despite the length of Open Roads Renewables' presence in the community, many county residents were still unaware of the planned industrial solar development.
Anti-solar sentiment took off in Knox County over Open Road Renewables' plans for its industrial solar project and escalated after a Nov. 30 event hosted by Knox Smart Development.
The community then elected two anti-solar Knox County Commissioners in Bary Lester and Drenda Keesee. Lester was part of a lobbying effort that resulted in 15 out of 22 of Knox County’s townships and the City of Mount Vernon voting to become exclusionary zones for industrial solar. Keesee said she was motivated to run for the County Commission after a development was planned next to her property.
"I woke up one day to find out that they were putting 1.5 million solar panels around my home and had no knowledge of it," she said.
Keesee later helped mobilize her neighborhood to oppose the solar projects and raise awareness about their potential impacts.
Keener’s comments come ahead of the April 4 public hearing with the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) regarding the Frasier Solar Project, set to take place at the Knox Memorial Theater located at 112 E. High St. in Mount Vernon.
The outcome of the hearing will ultimately shape the trajectory of the Frasier Solar Project.
Keener herself sponsored a resolution opposing the development at the March 11 Mount Vernon City Council meeting.
Concerns expressed in the legislation, which passed unanimously, included the proximity of the project to the city, potential alterations to the landscape, loss of agricultural land or less efficient land use, and adverse effects on tourism.
The council’s resolution urges the denial of the development, emphasizing that it is “not in the best interests of its citizens and the community at large.”
Craig Adair, vice president of development for Open Road Renewables, appealed to the Council before the vote and complained of “fear mongering” amid widespread, vocal opposition from across the county.
“I apologize this is the first time we're meeting,” Adair told the council at the time. “We’ve had several meetings with city staff over the last year and a half, going back to July of 2022.”
Many residents are vocal about their opposition to the project.
Long-time resident of Mount Vernon, Rhonda Noble, is among those deeply concerned about the potential negative impact of the projects on her community as well as neighboring residents near the 1,533-acre solar project.
According to Noble, she is worried about how the project would affect the region’s landscapes, agricultural heritage, and wildlife, emphasizing concerns about environmental toxins.
She also expressed apprehensions regarding construction noise, road changes, and increased crime rates during development.
Noble underscored the threat to the area’s wildlife and scenic beauty, lamenting the loss of farmland and frustration with the lack of public engagement. She's urging a reevaluation of property owners' rights with regards to leasing land for such projects, while striking a balance with residents’ concerns.
