As I watched and listened to all the others who testified about the Frasier Project, especially those of us who are interveners, it became apparent that the majority of the people who would live near the project are against it. It is also apparent that the majority of Knox County opposes the project.
Strong testimonies from Miller Township Trustees, Knox Soil and Water, a realtor, a letter from our Mayor, a letter from the President of Knox County Airport, letters from our State Representatives, along with the City Council of Mount Vernon, who unanimously voted to oppose the project, hundreds of petition signatures and testimonies, and from those who will be deeply impacted, made a convincing case that the Frasier Solar Project, developed by Open Road Renewables, is not a good fit for our community.
As indicated in the earlier testimonies, a house will be surrounded on 3 sides, while others on one or two sides. There is no escape for these folks. Also, according to the Staff Report prepared by the OPSB, over 2,000 trucks would be rolling in and out of our tiny area. This is absurd and unacceptable.
We were informed of a completely different story than what the Staff Report reveals, such as no trees would be cut down, but as the Staff Report also reveals, approximately 10 acres will be cleared. It’s these lies and trivial things like this that add up to become of considerable importance. This is why more counties and townships oppose solar by writing resolutions to ban or limit them on prime farmland. As we have learned, nothing is believable from the developers.Â
Those from Apple Valley who testified in support of the project are protected by a HOA. The Philander Chase Conservancy of Kenyon College also protects those from Gambier who testified in support of the project. Gambier folks indicated in a news article that they didn’t want to listen to the small compressors used by food trucks but find it ok for us in Miller Township to have to listen to large equipment coming in and out, banging, pounding, beeping, and clanging noises all day long, for over a year.
Their testimonies made absolutely no sense to me, especially the sense they are protected in their communities, which is exactly what we are trying to do in our community. The hypocrisy coming from those residents who are protected in their villages makes my point.Â
Those who came here from places outside of Knox County, such as Portsmouth, or Athens County, misinformed our community during their testimonies and in letters published in newspapers, while at the same time trying to claim that others were misinforming our community.
For example, Kenyon students who signed the “For” project gave false addresses. A Facebook post claimed that Killdeer are becoming extinct and that farmers are to blame Let me be clear, there is so much more that is wrong with this project and those involved, like the activists, than there is right.
When activists or union workers are brought in from all over the state to defend solar it becomes noticeably clear that this is not really about what is best for Knox County, but all about money. This isn’t their home. This isn’t their heritage. This isn’t where they were raised or where they raised their children. They were asked to come to testify and intimidate those of us who opposed.
This is our home and our community. Money offered to residents who would live near the Frasier Solar project to try to make it more tolerable is offensive and as far as the sheep are concerned, it’s just more smoke-and-mirrors.
A massive portion of what we were told by Open Road Renewables in our Township Meetings is quite different from what is written in the Staff Report. The deception is real and just another reason I, and others, oppose this project.
Taking away farmland for something that doesn’t produce reliable electricity is such a waste of land and the diminution of homes and property of those who live near the project is theft. We have worked hard and earned what is ours so we will fight back to protect our community.
Guarantee that if the person(s) leasing their land were only offered $300-$400 an acre, we wouldn’t be in this situation, but because of government subsidies and elitist backing, the leasing offer is much higher and is hard for landowners to turn down. Again. Money.
Rhonda Noble
Miller Township