Local group withdraws objection to Birch Solar

In a truly positive step forward for our community, it was publicly announced on May 16 that Against Birch Solar LLC (ABS)

has entered into a confidential agreement with Lightsource bp, the developer of the Birch Solar 1

project, and no longer opposes the project. In addition, ABS

chose to “voluntarily dismiss” and formally withdraw their petition to intervene in the case. The

news was announced by Michael Wildermuth, manager of the coalition.

While some elected officials previously expressed concern

about the project due to a perception of public opposition, now the only organized opposition group

has withdrawn. Yet, our local, grassroots organization, the Allen Auglaize Coalition for Reasonable Energy (the Coalition), continues to support the project along with local labor organizations and others who are excited about the benefits the project will bring to our counties and townships. Our hundreds of supporters are thankful for Lightsource bp's continued community engagement and its willingness and ability to satisfy all the concerns

of those previously opposed to this development.

Beneficiaries of the project include local schools and governments receiving additional millions of dollars in tax revenue

and the citizens who pay taxes to those schools and governments,

as well as local unions providing workers to construct the project,

environmentalists concerned about the project's long-term impacts, local residents concerned

about the preservation of farmland, and landowners leasing their fields for solar panels. They can all be heartened by this news.

Perhaps of even greater importance to us collectively is the decarbonization of our electric grid that this and other similar projects address; increasing America's energy independence as they flood our grids locally with hundreds of megawatts of clean energy. We can all breathe easier.

“Birch Solar will be a tremendous addition to Shawnee and Logan townships and we will

continue to encourage the Ohio Power Siting Board to approve the construction permit so that the benefits can begin to flow as

quickly as possible,” said Michael Wildermuth, Manager of the Coalition. “Lightsource bp has proven itself to be a good community partner and now, with no local opposition remaining to the project, the Power Siting Board should

stand with our local landowners, workers, and residents by saying 'Yes' to Birch Solar 1.”