Canary Media: "Rural Ohioans oppose solar farms, right? Not so, developer finds." Open Road Renewables is the developer seeking a permit to build the Grange Solar Grazing Center in Logan County. They reviewed > 2,500 comments submitted to the Ohio Power Siting Board regarding its permitting case. "A project’s popularity is a potential factor in site permit decisions, but how regulators use that information is the subject of a pending case before the Ohio Supreme Court." It rapidly became clear that people were ​“gaming” the system, submitting multiple comments to make it appear that the project had serious opposition. "Solar opponents, some with ties to fossil fuel groups, have used town halls and other forums to portray utility-scale solar projects as deeply unpopular in rural Ohio." In fact, sustained opposition led developers to halt plans for at least 4 large solar developments in Ohio within the last 15 months. "Nationally, research released last June by Columbia University’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law documents hundreds of renewable energy projects facing significant opposition across 47 states." Russells Point resident Sharon Devault commented, “The economic impact is undeniable—jobs for our neighbors and much-needed funding for our schools and public services.” Intriguingly, even 'the Ohio Chamber of Commerce...filed a supportive comment on the Grange Solar project, reflecting the business group’s more vocal advocacy for clean energy as a tool for economic development and grid resiliency.' Naysayer Logan County resident Shelley Wammes contributed 13 comments against the project last August and September, then another 14 comments Feb. 12 + a final one on Feb. 14. [Wammes did not respond to questions by Canary Media]. "Power siting board’s staff investigation of the Grange Solar project is due by March 3, and the evidentiary hearing is set to start on April 7." Clearly there is substantial dark money coming out against this project from fossil fuel interests including coal + methane gas.