An incredible victory for Knox County: The Frasier Solar project has been approved by the Ohio Power Siting Board!
For nearly two years, Ohio Citizen Action has been organizing alongside Ohio's farmers and landowners standing up for their property rights and their right to be part of Ohio's clean energy future.
How We Won
This was our first program using Deep Canvassing Principles. Not just mobilizing supporters, but addressing concerns and changing hearts and minds. We identified what issues mattered most to the folks in the community, and partnered with the local group Knox for Responsible Solar to ensure we amplified the voice of those who had been advocating for this project before we engaged.
Our Rural Projects Manager, Bella Bogin, shares how we got here:
In late October 2023, I started knocking on doors in Knox County in support of the Frasier Solar Project. It was the early days of our deep canvassing efforts.
I spoke to a lot of folks in the community who support solar, but were too scared to speak out due to a small, yet loud and aggressive group of opposition. They tried to bully our supporters into being silenced.
It was apparent to me from day one that what we needed most was to create a safe space for all those who support utility-scale solar. Alongside community members, we helped found the Knox Solar Supporters.
Together, we knocked on doors across the county, helped collect signatures of support, distributed yard signs, hosted and participated in countless protests against widespread misinformation, helped uncover a fake newspaper, wrote letters to local leaders, and collected comments to the Ohio Power Siting Board —breaking the record for the number of comments submitted and dominating 75% of the docket in support of this project.
Together, we exposed the lies and brought light to truth and hope!
My biggest takeaway from our fight in Knox is that showing up matters.
We got here because people showed up. Because supporters refused to stay silent. Because when fear tried to keep folks quiet, we created something stronger: community.
Speaking out is scary and difficult, and we know some volunteers who’ve lost contact with friends and family members over this exact issue. But the truth of the matter is that the only way to fight misinformation and lies is to speak the truth.
- 6,249 doors
- 62 handwritten letters
- 66 Yard Signs
- 3 Volunteer Canvass Days
- 426 Ohio Power Siting Board comments
- 4 Public Hearings
- 3 community events
Each number represents a person—a neighbor, a farmer, a parent, a retiree — who believed that their voice mattered. And they were right.
What This Means for Ohio
This isn't just a win for Knox County—this is a massive victory for the entire movement for utility-scale solar in Ohio.
The Frasier Solar project is expected to generate $1 million in taxes/year, with half going to the Mount Vernon City School District. Tax money will also flow to Knox County’s general fund, the public library system and more.
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.
We always knew this was about protecting the rights of farmers in Ohio. It came to a head at a public hearing when a local farmer, who wasn't even leasing land to this project, said that it is not his responsibility to provide his neighbors with a nice view. So many people against the project focused on having to look at solar panels, and seemed to forget who was benefitting from this business arrangement: their neighbors.
Congratulations, Ohio!