Solar permitting — Morrow County, Ohio
1 news item, 4 known opposition groups.
⚠️ AVOID OR PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION (Score 81/100, Grade F, deteriorating trajectory) — SB 52 exclusion zone — county commissioners have banned utility-scale solar in all or most unincorporated areas. Permitting: Morrow County: sub-50 MW projects governed by county zoning ordinance. ≥50 MW requ…
Key driver: SB 52 exclusion zone — county commissioners have banned utility-scale solar in all or most unincorporated areas. C Ohio agricultural; Mt. Gilead area; Morrow County confirmed SB 52 exclusion zone as of 2025; Crossroads Solar Grazing Center (community effort to counter ban) underway
Permitting process
Local permitting pathway
Morrow 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: +27 (Moratorium +22; Denial +5)
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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Battery storage (BESS) P1 State-Default Permitting
No standalone county BESS ordinance confirmed.
Local BESS ordinances & bylaws
County-level battery-storage status, safety requirements, and projects — each linked to a primary source.
Community opposition P1 4 tracked
Organized opposition signals on record for this county — petitions, community groups, and oppositional coverage — each linked to its primary source.
- r/Ohio on Reddit: Ohio blocks big solar farm, despite apparently fake public comments Wind
- r/Ohio on Reddit: Public comment on proposed Morrow County solar farm is coming from people who don’t live there. Wind
- Ohio Power Siting Board blocks construction of Morrow County solar farm Solar
- Ohio Power Siting Board denies solar project in Morrow County amid strong local opposition Solar
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Subscriber intel Subscribers
Researched for this county and available with a subscription:
- 🔒Project track record
- 🔒Developer intelligence
- 🔒Community & board sentiment
- 🔒Governing board
Energy-related meetings & dockets P1
No tracked activity yet — coverage expands weekly.
State PSC dockets P1
No tracked activity yet — coverage expands weekly.
Sentiment rollup P2
No sentiment rollup yet (requires meeting transcripts to be processed).
Local news P3
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