Defiance County, OH — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No Moratorium — but SB 52 county veto power active

OPSB standard applies per OAC 4906-4-09(G)(4): ≥50 ft from parcel boundary; ≥300 ft from non-participating residences; ≥150 ft from road ROW. No additional county-specific setbacks.

Defiance County: sub-50 MW projects governed by county zoning ordinance. ≥50 MW requires OPSB CECPN (see State Permitting Requirements).

Hostile — Cepheus denial third in series of 'public interest' denials

SB52 ban; OPSB denied citing 7 local government bodies in opposition; developer filed rehearing request 2023

Stable

Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) has jurisdiction for solar ≥50 MW (Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4906). Senate Bill 52 (2021) dramatically altered the siting process: county commissioners gained authority to (1) block individual projects via 90-day review window (must adopt resolution within 90 days of public meeting), and (2) pass blanket 'exclusion zones' restricting all utility-scale solar/wind in unincorporated areas. As of September 2025, 37 Ohio counties have enacted SB 52 exclusion zones affecting at least 1 township. Known full/near-full county bans (as of Mar 2026): Adams, Allen, Auglaize, Brown, Butler, Clark, Clermont, Columbiana, Crawford, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Greene, Hancock, Henry, Licking, Logan, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Morrow, Ottawa, Putnam, Richland, Seneca, Union, Wayne. Kingwood Solar (175 MW, Greene County) OPSB denial on 'public interest' grounds is before Ohio Supreme Court (oral arguments Mar 13, 2025; decision pending Mar 2026). Projects <50 MW: local zoning governs (HB 501 of 2023 granted local authority over sub-50 MW projects). OPSB certificate preempts local zoning once issued (RC 4906.13(B)); but SB 52 allows county veto before OPSB stage. Priority Investment Areas (PIA): brownfield/former coal mine sites may receive expedited 90-day OPSB review. PJM interconnection required. Most of Ohio served by AEP Ohio, FirstEnergy (ATSI), Duke Energy Ohio (DEOK), or AES Ohio/DP&L.

Ohio has no Renewable Portfolio Standard (HB 6 2019 effectively eliminated compliance mandate). SREC market: Ohio SRECs tradeable but very low value due to lack of mandate (~$2-5/SREC 2024). Net metering: available under Ohio law for ≤120% of customer load; AEP Ohio, FirstEnergy (Ohio Edison, CEI, Toledo Edison), Duke/DP&L, AES Ohio offer standard programs. Solar PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes): county agreements common for large-scale projects. Ohio Enterprise Zone/CRA: potential tax abatement for qualifying sites. SB52 (2021): county commissioners can restrict ≥50 MW solar projects via exclusion zones or individual project veto — key risk factor for development in 37+ Ohio counties.

No operational utility-scale OPSB-certified solar in Defiance County as of 2025. OPSB denied Cepheus Energy 68 MW application January 2023 due to "general opposition from local citizens and governmental bodies" — one of first three OPSB solar denials in Ohio history (OSU Farm Office Jan 20 2023). AEP Ohio serves Defiance County. SB52 exclusion zone enacted.

Cepheus Energy | 68 MW | Defiance County | OPSB DENIED January 2023 | Reason: general opposition from local citizens and governmental bodies — OPSB found local impacts outweigh project benefits (OSU Farm Office Jan 20 2023). Defiance County SB52 exclusion zone also enacted.