ASHLAND — Ashland County commissioners are encouraging feedback from residents on a proposal to bring solar panels to an abandoned landfill and park along County Road 1754.
“We asked for input,” Commissioner Mike Welch said during a meeting last week. “Whether it’s pro or con, we want to hear from you. Maybe a simple email or a voicemail … we just want to hear your feelings on it.”
Commissioners are considering allowing the construction of a 15 MW solar-powered field on the east and west parcels that formerly made up the county landfill, which also serves as Byers Woods, one of 18 parks within the Ashland County Parks District.
The idea was presented on March 10 by Kurt Princic of CEP Renewables.
The commissioners’ plea for feedback on the idea came about a week following their trip up to Brooklyn, Ohio, where CEP installed a 4 MW solar-powered field on an abandoned landfill site of 17 acres.
“It was a good trip, a good experience,” Commissioner Denny Bittle said of the trip to Brooklyn.
He said he was surprised by how far apart the panel rows were spaced at the facility, saying it was about 20 to 30 feet between rows.
“I was really surprised that there was no dead spots in that facility — that the grass was growing. It looked like it needed trimmed again. The grass had already started growing underneath those panels,” he said.
Despite the commissioners’ quickness in visiting the site, Bittle said they are still months away from making a decision on the project.
Right now, Bittle said he and his colleagues are gathering information from Ashland County Parks District, the general public and the Environmental Protection Agency.
“There are a lot of people involved with getting more information for us, and then we can present that to you all,” Bittle said.
He is also encouraging people to reach out with feedback on the possibility.
If the county agrees to CEP’s proposition, the county and CEP would enter into a 20-year lease for a negotiated annual price — typically within $1,000 to $1,500 per developable acre per year.
State law requires solar companies to pay $7,000 per megawatt produced toward property tax.
Princic said there are around 61 developable acres there, providing room for a total of around 15 MW. So having a solar power facility on the landfill could spell a lease priced at $61,000 to $91,500 per year, with another $105,000 per year in property tax revenue.
Parks commissioners Tom Kruse and Bob DeSanto have expressed opposition to the idea. Kruse said seeing solar panels on the abandoned landfill property would make the scenery “hideous.”
