Part III: A Q&A with Ashland County commissioner Mike Welch

ASHLAND — Where are commissioners’ heads about CEP Renewable’s desire to build a commercial solar array on a former landfill?

Commissioners have repeatedly said they are nowhere near a decision.

But that doesn’t mean they aren’t considering it.

All three Ashland County commissioners and the Ashland County Solid Waste director, Jim Skora, visited CEP Renewable’s solar array in Brooklyn, Ohio in April.

At the time, commissioners said it “was a good trip.” The field trip aimed at giving them an idea of the layout of solar panels, as well as the general look and feel of them.

But they are also interested in gathering information from the Ashland County Parks District, an entity whose commissioners have expressed opposition to the project, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Below is a transcript of an email interview with Ashland County Board of Commissioners President Mike Welch. The questions come primarily from a list of questions presented by Ashland County resident Ginny Telego on Aug. 3.

AS: We’ve reported before how much it costs to maintain/monitor the landfill: $80,000-$90,000. Is this number accurate? Is a portion of that figure covered by revenue generated by the Ashland County Solid Waste Authority? If so, how much does the authority contribute to that yearly cost? 

Welch: The (purchase order) for Mannik and Smith is $90,000 for the post closure fees for 2023. It is paid for from the landfill post closure fund which is generated from a $3 tipping fee for every ton of trash that is taken to the landfill from Ashland County residents and businesses. Ashland County Solid Waste Authority manages the fund and it can’t be spent on anything else not related to the landfill. No other dollars are spent on the landfill from any other source.

AS: Once the landfill is rehabilitated to the point where the county no longer needs to monitor it, how will that money ($80,000-$90,000) be used and tracked?

Welch: I have been told many times over the years that even when the 30 years of post closure are finished that there will still be the need to monitor the gases.

AS: Given that CEP Renewables is a new company and they don’t have a track record of having any properties with solar panels that have been in place for 20 years or longer, how would the commissioners ensure the company takes responsibility for maintaining and responsibly removing the panels at a later date?

Welch: My understanding is there would be money put into an escrow account from the company to cover all costs to remove the panels  in case the company were to go defunct. This would happen before the contract would be initiated.

AS: Byers Woods (and the landfill site) is located within Vermillion Township, whose zoning regulations prohibit solar projects that are intended for commercial use. If the commissioners were to pursue a solar panel field at the landfill site, would they need to seek special permission, like an exemption, from the township trustees?

Welch: First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Michael Donatini is our legal authority and also for the township. So I doubt there would be outside dollars spent. For the township zoning, I don’t have a lot of clarity on that at this point.

AS: A follow up to the last question: who would pay for legal costs associated with obtaining zoning exemptions?

Welch: In terms of how this would be paid for, this would probably all be in-house.

AS: Have the commissioners considered placing a county-wide zoning regulation that would effectively prohibit commercial solar facilities? A link below cites a state law that allows authorities to block the development of new utility-scale wind and solar projects. 

Welch: The board has not entertained the thought of blocking solar farms at this point. This project, if it ever went forward, would be on a distressed property which you can not tear up the ground or build houses on. Right now we receive $3,800 per year for a farmer to mow the grass and bale the hay on the landfill. Potentially if the project went forward the county would receive approximately $4 million over a 20-year period.

The October 2021 enactment of a state law gave local governments the veto power over renewable energy generation sites. At least 10 Ohio counties, since August 2022, have passed resolutions blocking the development of new utility scale wind and solar projects within all or part of their jurisdictions.

https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2022/08/23/nine-ohio-counties-ban-wind-solar-projects-under-new-state-law/

AS: When can Ashland County residents expect a formal decision on CEP’s proposed project?

Welch: Originally CEP called up our Solid Waste coordinator Jim Skora to see if there was any interest in a solar farm on the old landfill. Right now the project is on the back burner. However, I thought it was important to have CEP Renewables come to a public meeting so that we could get public input.