Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) has denied the application for 94 MW Crossroads Solar Project in Morrow County, concluding that the proposed development did not meet the statutory requirement to serve the “public interest, convenience, and necessity” under Ohio law. The board’s decision emphasized consistent and widespread opposition from local elected officials and constituents. Factors cited included concerns about local agricultural impacts, skepticism around promised grazing arrangements, particularly sheep grazing planned beneath arrays, and distrust of the developer’s plans to sell operational rights to a third party before commissioning.

Description of Crossroads Solar Project in Ohio

Crossroads Solar I, LLC proposed to develop a 94 MW solar power generation project across approximately 726 acres in Cardington, Lincoln, and Westfield townships in Morrow County, Ohio. The Crossroads Solar Grazing Center was designed to be a medium-scale solar farm feeding renewable electricity into the regional grid. It would have potentially powered thousands of homes and reduced emissions from the state.

The developer had included planned components such as site fencing, solar arrays, inverters, and underground cabling. The energy output was intended for sale under power purchase agreements or wholesale market channels.

Crossroads Solar Project in Ohio and the U.S. Renewable Landscape

Utility-scale solar deployment in the U.S. has surged over the past decade, driven by falling photovoltaic costs and state and federal renewable targets. However, local land use concerns, community opposition, and regulation at county and state levels continue to shape project outcomes.

The denial of Crossroads Solar Project in Morrow County by Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) is a show of the growing tension between renewable energy expansion and localized opposition in rural areas. The latter are areas particularly where agricultural land and community identity are central to local economies. Renewable developers may also increasingly need to adapt engagement and benefits strategies to gain social license for projects. These gains to be mentioned in their pitch also include tangible local economic benefits and greater transparency in ownership and operation plans.

Project Factsheet

Location: Morrow County, Ohio

Project Name: Crossroads Solar Grazing Center

Developer: Crossroads Solar I, LLC

Capacity: 94 megawatts

Status: Denied by the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB)

Board Decision Date: March 19, 2026