DEAR EDITOR:

Warming caused by manmade CO2 emissions has set the world on a path to a grim future unless immediate, substantial efforts are made toward reductions. Climate scientists say these efforts must be made by 2030 to have a realistic chance of minimizing expected damages.

Large-scale solar farms are among the best tools for reducing CO2 emissions. Plummeting solar panel costs and federal tax incentives provide for an economical solution.

Ohio law now allows counties to approve efforts of unincorporated townships to ban large-scale solar and wind farms, rather than allowing such projects to go through the Ohio Power Siting Board application process. Columbiana County has passed a wind / solar ban. Mahoning County is considering it. Lordstown Village just did it. Trumbull County could be next.

Banning solar farms denies counties, townships and schools millions in potential tax revenue, and farmers a lucrative source of revenue from their land.

Solar farms don’t destroy the rural character of the community. The OPSB’s new regulations require large solar farms to incorporate 300-foot setbacks to residential properties, a planted visual barrier and noise limitations. They also require a plan for containing stormwater runoff, and a decommissioning plan and bond to guarantee a solar array manager can’t leave a community to deal with thousands of old solar panels. The OPSB also actively solicits public comment about solar projects under consideration and has rejected projects opposed by both the community and their elected officials, making a ban unnecessary.

Solar farms don’t destroy farmland. Sites are limited, as they must be both sufficient in size and located near high-voltage transmission lines. Agrivoltaic practices allow for farming and solar energy production on the same land. Decommissioned solar farms are easily returned to their previous conditions. No farmland is lost.

Solar farms are safe. Silicon-based solar panels are based on mature technology. They’re able to handle high winds and they aren’t particularly flammable. Mounted solar panels aren’t a danger to groundwater. They’re only 5% reflective and don’t cause airplanes to crash. They won’t cause the extinction of bird species. They produce no emissions.

Solar farms can’t just be located in Arizona. Transmission losses dictate that solar power sites must be distributed regionally. Ohio’s most suitable sites are farmland. Youngstown’s brownfield sites are unavailable for use, as they’ve been developed into productive industrial parks. Residential rooftop solar arrays can’t collectively match the output of even just one large-scale solar farm. And yes, you can generate plenty of solar energy in Ohio.

Future generations won’t look back kindly on us for banning a technology that could’ve made their lives easier. If climate change is a topic that is important to you, make your voice heard. Oppose the bans.

RICK ALCORN

Youngstown