BLUFFTON, OH (WLIO) - A proposal to rezone land within Allen County's Richland Township for a utility-scale solar facility was held in Bluffton. Local residents packed out the house to get more information on the proposed project, which would be located approximately half a mile south of Beaverdam.
A proposal to rezone land within Allen County's Richland Township for a utility-scale solar facility was held in Bluffton.
People who live in the area and members of the zoning committee had many questions about the use of the 103 acres of land that would be dedicated to the solar project, and the idea of changing the zoning of the parcel from residential to industrial.
Representatives from EDP Renewables talked about the potential benefits of the project, saying it would mean generations worth of clean, renewable electricity. Those in attendance all appeared to be firmly against the proposal.
"There is not a lot of evidence that any of the solar companies will share with the farmers that tells us about what it does to the water runoff, what toxic metals it puts in the water, and what long-term ramifications it has on the ground and the surrounding area. They conveniently leave that out in hopes that either investors see the money and the dollars or that farmers aren't smart enough to pay attention to the details," added Sharon Walsh, an Allen County resident.
The public hearing concluded with the zoning committee rejecting the petition for rezoning by a 4-0 vote.
