When Richland County commissioners quietly banned utility-scale solar and wind energy projects in July 2025, residents pushed back hard. The ban passed with minimal public notice or debate. It affected 11 of 18 townships in the county. That didn’t sit well with many locals.
Ohio’s Senate Bill 52 gave residents a path to fight back. It included a provision allowing people to petition against such bans within 30 days. That window was tight, but organizers moved fast.
The campaign, called “No Ban on Property Rights,” needed more than 4,000 valid signatures in just 30 days. Over 100 petition collectors fanned out across the county. They knocked on doors and worked public events. On September 4, 2025, election officials confirmed the signatures were valid. The effort had succeeded.
More than 4,000 signatures. Thirty days. Over 100 collectors. The people of Richland County showed up.
The coalition behind the drive wasn’t small. Ohio Citizen Action Education Fund provided organizational support. Teachers, labor leaders, and environmental advocates all joined the effort. Supporters said the commissioners had passed the ban without listening to constituents. Residents had attended hearings and meetings to voice their concerns, but the ban moved forward anyway.
The issue will now go to voters on May 5, 2026. The ballot measure asks whether to repeal the ban on utility-scale solar and wind projects. A “NO” vote would repeal the restrictions. If the ban’s overturned, decision-making would return to the Ohio Power Siting Board. That board reviews projects on a case-by-case basis. Township trustees and county commissioners would likely retain veto power over individual projects under state law.
Supporters argue that landowners should have the right to pursue renewable energy projects on their own property. The blanket ban takes that choice away. According to supporters, communities with utility-scale solar projects consistently report tangible economic benefits, including more local tax revenue for schools and better-paying construction jobs. Renewable energy projects can also offer family farmers income diversification while keeping their land in agricultural use. Federal programs like REAP have reportedly funded over 20,000 projects totaling $6.7 billion since 2003, demonstrating the broad economic value renewable energy delivers to rural communities across the country.
This effort’s being watched beyond Ohio’s borders. It could be the first time voters in any U.S. county have overturned a renewable energy ban at the ballot box. Organizers believe it could serve as a template for similar grassroots campaigns in other states. The outcome in May 2026 may shape how communities across the country handle energy policy disputes going forward.
References
- https://reimagineappalachia.org/ohio-county-makes-history-residents-force-first-ever-vote-to-overturn-wind-and-solar-ban/
- https://blog.nwf.org/2025/10/ohio-county-makes-history-residents-force-first-ever-vote-to-overturn-wind-and-solar-ban/
- https://www.ohiocitizen.org/meet_the_neighbors_behind_the_richland_referendum
- https://www.nobanonpropertyrights.com/faqs
- https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-energy/ohio-county-banned-wind-solar
