Knox County Commissioners convened a public meeting on February 20 to discuss the contentious issue of wind farms and solar facilities in unincorporated areas. The session saw participation from township trustees and residents, with opinions divided between opposition to such projects and support for solar power and property rights.
Liberty Township Trustee Joe Spurgeon articulated a common stance among Knox County township trustees. "We did have a public hearing that was overwhelmingly opposed the solar. We do have a resolution for that, and we did go along with the one that was sent out from the commissioners. And we have not changed our position on that at all," Spurgeon said in a YouTube recording of the public meeting.
According to the meeting video, most township trustees had either previously passed resolutions or approved zoning measures opposing solar facilities or wind farms, or both. Knox County Board of Commission President Bill Pursel said that the commission held this public hearing due to the presence of a new Board of Commissioners, aiming to revise county code language concerning solar and wind farm facilities. The Ohio Revised Code mandated a 30-day notice for such meetings.
Bruce Kiracofe of Howard Township expressed his support for solar energy during the meeting, as per the video recording. He questioned why solar energy was being vilified and emphasized that any development would require negotiations with landowners while adhering to regulations. Kiracofe argued against blanket prohibitions, advocating instead for enabling landowner negotiations and appropriate panel placement to coexist with agriculture. He suggested putting the matter before voters despite anticipating an overwhelming vote against solar.
Kathy Gamble, residing in Pleasant Township with property in Clinton Township, voiced her support for solar development based on property rights concerns. Recalling past legal battles over her property, she remarked, "I feel a total outright ban of solar is taking away from the landowners that want to manage their property that way." She stressed the importance of oversight in solar development.
Jim Braddock of Wayne Township, both a trustee and farmer, remained neutral on the issue but criticized misinformation and scare tactics used by some anti-solar advocates. He expressed concern over personal agendas influencing public boards and noted his preference for solar panels over housing developments due to infrastructure limitations. Reflecting on his three decades as a trustee, Braddock advocated addressing such issues through ballots.
