Solar permitting — Knox County, Ohio
1 news item, 1 known opposition group.
🟠 HIGH-FRICTION JURISDICTION (Score 61/100, Grade D, deteriorating trajectory) — Partial SB 52 township restrictions — some areas blocked, others available; OPSB process required ≥50 MW. Permitting: Knox County: sub-50 MW projects governed by county zoning ordinance. ≥50 MW requires OPSB ; 300-ft…
Key driver: Partial SB 52 township restrictions — some areas blocked, others available; OPSB process required ≥50 MW. C Ohio agricultural; Mt. Vernon (Kenyon College) area; Knox County has partial SB 52 restrictions; Frasier Solar Project (OPSB approved, Knox County) is landmark case
Permitting process
Local permitting pathway
Knox County: sub-50 MW projects governed by county zoning ordinance. ≥50 MW requires OPSB CECPN (see State Permitting Requirements).
Setbacks & buffers
OPSB standard applies per OAC 4906-4-09(G)(4): ≥50 ft from parcel boundary; ≥300 ft from non-participating residences; ≥150 ft from road ROW. No additional county-specific setbacks.
Spacing requirements
None codified.
Size restrictions
None codified; managed via CUP/SUP conditions
Penalties & bonding
Total penalty: +10 (Moratorium +10)
State-level permits & approvals
Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) has jurisdiction for solar ≥50 MW (Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4906). Senate Bill 52 (2021) dramatically altered the siting process: county commissioners gained authority to (1) block individual projects via 90-day review window (must adopt resolution within 90 days of public meeting), and (2) pass blanket 'exclusion zones' restricting all utility-scale solar/wind in unincorporated areas. As of September 2025, 37 Ohio counties have enacted SB 52 exclusion zones affecting at least 1 township. Known full/near-full county bans (as of Mar 2026): Adams, Allen, Auglaize, Brown, Butler, Clark, Clermont, Columbiana, Crawford, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Greene, Hancock, Henry, Licking, Logan, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Morrow, Ottawa, Putnam, Richland, Seneca, Union, Wayne. Kingwood Solar (175 MW, Greene County) OPSB denial on 'public interest' grounds is before Ohio Supreme Court (oral arguments Mar 13, 2025; decision pending Mar 2026). Projects <50 MW: local zoning governs (HB 501 of 2023 granted local authority over sub-50 MW projects). OPSB certificate preempts local zoning once issued (RC 4906.13(B)); but SB 52 allows county veto before OPSB stage. Priority Investment Areas (PIA): brownfield/former coal mine sites may receive expedited 90-day OPSB review. PJM interconnection required. Most of Ohio served by AEP Ohio, FirstEnergy (ATSI), Duke Energy Ohio (DEOK), or AES Ohio/DP&L.
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State policy & grid context
State RPS & clean energy policy
8.5% by 2026 | HB 6 (2019) reduced original 12.5% standard | ORC §4928.64
State incentive programs
Ohio has no Renewable Portfolio Standard (HB 6 2019 effectively eliminated compliance mandate). SREC market: Ohio SRECs tradeable but very low value due to lack of mandate (~$2-5/SREC 2024). Net metering: available under Ohio law for ≤120% of customer load; AEP Ohio, FirstEnergy (Ohio Edison, CEI, Toledo Edison), Duke/DP&L, AES Ohio offer standard programs. Solar PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes): county agreements common for large-scale projects. Ohio Enterprise Zone/CRA: potential tax abatement for qualifying sites. SB52 (2021): county commissioners can restrict ≥50 MW solar projects via exclusion zones or individual project veto — key risk factor for development in 37+ Ohio counties.
Grid & interconnection
PJM / AEP Ohio (AEP) zone
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Community opposition P1 1 tracked
Organized opposition signals on record for this county — petitions, community groups, and oppositional coverage — each linked to its primary source.
- Ohio’s solar future on the line? Why the Knox County Frazier project decision could be a bellwether. Solar
SitePath maintains the most complete community-opposition dataset available, refreshed continuously from primary sources.
Subscriber intel Subscribers
Researched for this county and available with a subscription:
- 🔒Project track record
- 🔒Developer intelligence
- 🔒Community & board sentiment
- 🔒Governing board
- 🔒Sentiment rollup
Energy-related meetings & dockets P1
No tracked activity yet — coverage expands weekly.
State PSC dockets P1
No tracked activity yet — coverage expands weekly.
Local news P3
- 2026-05-31 Clean Energy Victory In Knox County
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