An incredible victory for Fairfield County: The Eastern Cottontail Solar project has been approved by the Ohio Power Siting Board!
Our Rural Campaigns Manager Bella Bogin on how we won:
Last winter, when the cold cut through our coats and the nights came early, we received a call for help. Our friends in Fairfield County needed our help with dispelling misinformation and standing up to intimidation.
Our canvassers hit the doors, braving the record breaking Arctic chill (coldest since 1994). From December through mid-January, neighbors across Fairfield County put pen to paper, writing heartfelt, handwritten letters of support to the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB). In total, our community submitted more than 1,300 letters, a record-breaking 75% of the entire docket.
And at the January public hearing, we created something powerful together: a safe space for supporters to speak their truth, without fear of being alone. I’m glad we showed up because so did the bullies. One by one, Fairfield County residents stood up; farmers, parents, nurses, neighbors, all sharing why solar matters for their families and their future. Their courage filled the room, it was truly breathtaking to witness the power of showing up.
What This Means for Fairfield County
☀️ Up to 220 megawatts of affordable, clean energy- that's enough to power 42,000 homes.
☀️ About 500 construction jobs and long-term operations jobs will enter our workforce, plus 270 more indirect jobs.
☀️ Up to $80 million in new revenue over the project’s life for schools, police and fire departments, and local services.
☀️ A commitment to sheep grazing for vegetation management, implementing Agrivoltaics; keeping the land in agricultural use while supporting local farmers.
This win didn’t happen on its own. It happened because Fairfield County residents, neighbors like you, chose to stand together. It happened because canvassers braved the winter cold, wrapped themselves in warm scarves and put on their winter boots to gather signatures. It happened because supporters found the courage to speak at a public hearing. It happened because our community believed in a better, cleaner future.
Our canvasser MaryAnn Hubbard (flashing the peace sign in the photo above) shared her thoughts from the January 27, 2025 Ohio Power Siting Board hearing:
"In a room where many held different views, community members found their voices and stood tall. One by one, they stepped forward to speak their truth about protecting our Earth and preserving the farmland that has sustained their families for generations. Their quiet strength filled the room, reminding us that sometimes the greatest acts of leadership come from simply standing up for what you believe in, especially when doing so isn't easy. I related to the courage that it takes to stand up and speak out for what you believe in - I do that every day knocking on doors."
This is what grassroots power looks like
"What gives me hope and optimism is knowing that if this project is approved, the sun will keep rising every day and setting every night over hundreds more jobs, millions more dollars in tax revenue, and on a county that is securing a future with less reliance on fuel sources that heat up our planet and dim our future."
Ohioans like MaryAnn and Lara know that speaking up is not always comfortable. But it's always necessary.
The Ohio Citizen Action Difference
Ohio Citizen Action empowered Ohioans to create change. Our organizers provided the information, tools, and support that transformed individuals into collective power.
- 2,955 doors
- 675 conversations
- 91 letters
- 16 Yard Signs
Congratulations, Ohio!