By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
A cloud has settled over Steve Espen since he got the letter about a massive solar field being planned across the road from his Weston Township home.
“This is going to be a massive project,” Espen said about the sprawling solar field which would be five times larger than Bowling Green’s solar project northeast of the city.
Espen has lived in his Weston Road home for about 30 years, and worries about the effect on his home if the solar field is constructed.
He isn’t alone.
“Every one of us on this road takes care of our properties,” Espen said last week after receiving the letter about the 7X Energy project.
Last month, the Wood County Commissioners heard a proposal from 7X Energy, which has about 600 acres under contract west of Weston. The proposed solar farm would cover land currently farmed, and would produce about 101 MW of power – compared to the 20 MW generated at the Bowling Green solar site.
The 7X company, based in Austin, Texas, specializes in utility-scale solar projects and currently has fields generating a total of 1,700 MW, according to 7X Energy representative Cliff Scher.
The firm, which has been in business three years, has four projects in the works in Ohio. The project outside Weston has been dubbed the Juliet Energy Project. The solar site appears to touch 28 residential properties, with most on Sand Ridge Road, Weston Road and Milton Road.
One of those properties belongs to Bob Desmond, a civil engineer, who just bought his home on Weston Road last year.
“It’s going to be in my backyard,” Desmond said, explaining that he isn’t sure yet how he feels about the proposal.
Neither Espen – who drives a Prius – nor Desmond are opposed to solar energy – in fact both like the idea of renewable energy. But they aren’t crazy about having it as a next door neighbor.
“I’m all for solar energy,” Desmond said. “But nobody moves out to the country to be next to a solar field.”
To Espen, who is 70 years old, the project is “anxiety causing.” Part of his trepidation comes from the fact that 7X Energy has been in negotiations with farmers for their land for more than a year. But the company has been “secretive” with homeowners, Espen said.
“We feel we’re being steamrolled,” he said. “I’m for solar – but not here and not like this. I just want to be heard.”
Espen received his letter about the solar field plans and a Jan. 20 public webinar on the project on Jan. 2. Desmond still hasn’t received a letter, though he said it may have been sent to the previous landowner.
“I had no idea of a mega solar farm being planned,” Desmond said.
Espen has no expectation that homeowners will be able to stop the project.
“This is a big corporation coming in,” he said of 7X Energy.
But Espen would like some assurances that his property values won’t go down the tubes.
“There is no question in my mind people will have their property devalued,” he said.
“We’ve done all this work out here,” he said. “I’m 70 years old. I just want to retire out here. I’ve invested in my home. I didn’t think I’d be battling a big corporation.”
Desmond said he has spoken with the project director for the solar site, who assured that buffers such as evergreens will be planted between homes and the solar field.
If the solar field goes ahead as planned, Desmond will lose his backyard view of farm fields. He prefers cornstalks, but said it could be worse.
“It’s better than having a landfill or cow farm in your backyard,” he said.
It will still be quiet, and the neighboring landowners may get free power or a stipend for living next to a solar field, he added.
A public webinar on the project will be held Jan. 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. Local residents may sign up by going to https://www.julietsolar.com/public-meeting-1. General information about the plans can be viewed at www.JulietSolar.com.
According to the plans presented to the county commissioners, the solar panels will be placed on steel pylons that are driven 7 to 9 feet in the ground. Installation crews will try to not damage underground drainage tiles already in place for the farm acreage, Scher said last month. If damage occurs, the crews will repair or replace the tiles, he added.
“We want to make sure there’s no negative effects to crops,” he said.
Native grasses would be planted under the panels.
Scher explained that 7X Energy began talking with landowners west of Weston last year.
After the meeting on Jan. 20, and the Ohio Power Siting Board will hold a public hearing on the project in July. The Ohio Power Siting Board will examine the proposed location for items such as wetlands.
The company is hoping to start construction in early 2022.
The life of the solar project is projected at 40 years.
There will be economic benefits to the project, Scher told the commissioners, such as funding to Otsego School District in lieu of property taxes, enhanced stability of the local power grid, the leasing payments to landowners, and between 100-200 construction jobs.
The company will enter a road maintenance agreement with the governmental entities where the solar field sits, to make sure 7X Energy is a good neighbor during construction, Scher said.
Once constructed, there will be just one or two full-time jobs at the site.
