Introduction
The state of Ohio, in the US, has become a challenge for renewable energy project developers. According to a new study, the Ohio Power Siting Board has rejected more renewable energy projects than any other state, with seven rejections, and also had the most projects withdrawn by developers before a decision, with five.
The Current Scenario
Before 2021, the Ohio Power Siting Board had approved all renewable energy projects that were presented to it. However, with the change in state legislation, which gave more weight to opposition from local governments and residents, the scenario changed.
Some of the changes were attributed to a state law passed in 2021, which gave local governments the ability to ban renewable energy development in certain areas. However, the results exceeded what the law required, with an extreme deference to local opposition, according to developers.
Consequences
Renewable energy project developers are starting to avoid the state of Ohio due to the difficulties faced. Craig Adair, vice president of development for Open Road Renewables, a Texas-based company that had a project rejected by the board last month and previously withdrew a project before a likely rejection, said: "It's becoming a game of Russian roulette, and we're not going to play it anymore. We're not doing any more projects in Ohio".
Analysis
The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Energy Policy, examined how regulators in 19 states handle renewable energy project applications. The results show that states approved 90% of applications and that the average wait time for a state decision was about one year.
However, the approval rate in Ohio has been lower since 2021. Additionally, the state has the most projects pending review, with 61 projects, and an approval rate of 80%.
Conclusion
The state of Ohio has become a challenge for renewable energy project developers. The change in state legislation and local opposition have made it difficult to approve projects. It is essential that regulators and developers work together to find solutions that meet the needs of all parties involved.
References
Source: Inside Climate News