Letter to the editor: Ban on large wind or solar operations exacerbates electricity bill struggles

Editor’s note: The Portager publishes letters to the editor from the community. The opinions expressed are published not because they necessarily reflect those of the publication but because we feel they contribute meaningfully to the local discourse on matters of public interest.

The citizens of Portage County are struggling with their energy utility bills. This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Banning solar and wind farms is not the answer. A ban will only increase our energy costs, pollute our environment and continue to harm public health by promoting the use of antiquated fossil fuels that are known to be toxic. Instead, think about instituting community solar energy projects. This would be an incredibly safe, sustainable, cost-effective solution for citizens.  

Opportunities for Agrivoltaics could also be a financial boon for Portage County farmers by increasing the efficiency of their land, providing income diversification, and increasing the availability of locally grown food. Many crops thrive when grown this way. Solar leases provide a steady supplemental income to allow farmers to preserve their family legacy. A ban would deny this option.

Concerns about loss of land for agriculture must be put into perspective. The Great Plains Institute 2021 report states “Accounting for existing solar, and presuming that all prospective solar is developed, the distribution of land use across continental US counties is on average 0.23 percent of a county’s land footprint.” That is an inconsequential footprint.  

The Ohio Dept of Health’s 2022 “Solar Farm and Photovoltaics Summary and Assessment” shows that solar farms do not pose a public health burden, despite false fears of “radiation.” 

The benefits of using renewable energies such as wind and solar include fostering energy independence and resilience, job creation, and a boost to local economies which benefit everyone. For example, Harrison County, Ohio has a large solar installation held by Knottingham Solar. Knottingham has paid $700,000 to $900,000 per year to the county for its schools, library, Athens Township and the county general fund. https://www.heraldstaronline.com/news/local-news/2023/01/proposed-solar-plant-could-bring-900k-annually-for-harrison-county/

Wouldn’t it wonderful if Portage County could benefit from a similar renewable energy project?  Imagine the possibilities.

The U.S. Dept of Energy lists the advantages of wind power as:

•  Wind power creates good-paying jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the fastest growing occupations are Wind Turbine Service Technicians and Solar Photovoltaic Installers.
  
  
• Wind power is a domestic resource that enables U.S. economic growth. In 2022, wind turbines operating in all 50 states generated more than 10% of the net total of the country’s energy. That same year, funding in new wind projects added $20 billion to the U.S. economy.
  
  
• Wind is a renewable source of energy. Not only is wind an abundant and inexhaustible resource, but it also provides electricity without burning any fuel or polluting the air. 
  
  
• Wind power benefits local communities. Wind projects deliver an estimated $2 billion in state and local tax payments and land-lease payments each year. Communities that develop wind energy can use the extra revenue to put towards school budgets, reduce the tax burden on homeowners, and address local infrastructure projects.
  
  
• Wind power is cost-effective. Land-based, utility-scale wind turbines provide one of the lowest-priced energy sources available today. Furthermore, wind energy’s cost competitiveness continues to improve with advances in the science and technology of wind energy.
  
  
• Wind turbines work in different settings. Wind energy generation fits well in agricultural and multi-use working landscapes. Wind energy is easily integrated in rural or remote areas, such as farms and ranches or coastal and island communities, where high-quality wind resources are often found.

I am aware that since the passage of SB 52, some counties are pre-emptively vetoing utility-scale renewable projects.  The anonymously funded groups spreading misinformation about rural solar projects are impacting decisions that will impact OUR lives, not theirs (unless they’re from the fossil fuel industry).  The public health and economic benefits that these renewable energy projects would bring to Portage County are lost among the lies.  

I strongly urge you not to ban large-scale solar or wind projects in Portage County.  If you want to help Portage Countians, I urge you to support the development of solar or wind projects to ease the heavy energy financial burden we are all subject to right now, with no end in sight.  

—Lori Babbey, Paris Township