Panel upholds solar plan near Arcadia

A state board Thursday denied a request by opponents of a solar-powered electric generating plant north of Arcadia for the board to reconsider its previous approval of the solar farm. The Ohio Power Siting Board's action would appear to enable construction of the South Branch Solar facility, north of Arcadia, to start by year-end and be completed by early 2025. An attempt to reach South Branch officials for information on construction timing was unsuccessful. South Branch would be a 129.6-megawatt facility. The power siting board first approved construction of the facility in February. Opponents in the Arcadia area then pressed for the power siting board to reconsider its decision, which the board formally refused to do on Thursday. South Branch opponents can next appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court. Plans for a second solar facility, that one west of Arcadia, was approved in February by the power siting board. Opponents also have asked the board to reconsider that decision. A formal board vote on whether to reconsider the proposed Border Basin project has not yet been scheduled. Opponents of both projects have expressed fears the projects would take farm land out of use and ruin it; cause drainage problems and flooding; disturb gas and oil wells, contaminate water wells and reduce property values. Residents favoring the projects have cited the additional tax revenue they would bring, particularly for Arcadia School District. The Ohio Power Siting Board in February voted to issue a certificate of "environmental compatibility and public need" for construction and operation of both projects. The two projects together are anticipated to generate over 1,000 construction jobs and 25 long-term positions with the plants, Jenifer French, chair of the Power Siting Board, has said. In the South Branch project, solar panels would be installed in an area north of the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks and the village of Arcadia; east of Township Road 254; to about a mile north of Arcadia, although a strip will extend an additional half-mile farther north nearly to Township Road 218; and west of Township Road 256. More solar panels would be located west of Township Road 254; east of Township Road 243; and south of County Road 109. South Branch Solar would occupy 610 acres within a 712-acre area.