What’s the Current State of Solar and Wind Energy Developments in Ohio? 

Solar and wind farms, which consist of a large amount of solar panels or wind turbines on open land, are prevalent across the state of Ohio. As of March 2026, there were 23 large-scale wind farms and 67 large-scale solar farms across the state. When compared to other forms of energy generation in Ohio, wind and solar produces roughly 3% of the state’s electricity. However, wind and solar are not the only clean energy sources in the state, as nuclear is the primary renewable energy generator, making up 14% of Ohio’s energy mix. 

Ohio has a long history of renewable energy legislation. For instance, in 2008, Senate Bill 221, or the Clean Energy Law, was created to encourage renewable energy development in the state. However, views on renewable energy in Ohio have since changed. For example, in 2014, Ohio legislators created legal restrictions on wind farms, which required the farms to be constructed a minimum of 1,125 feet from the nearest neighboring property line without a waiver from the neighboring property owner. This, however, does not apply to other forms of energy generation, as oil and gas productions are only required to be 100 feet from the nearest homes. 

What Are Senate Bill 52 and House Bill 15?

Senate Bill 52: Restricted Areas

Senate Bill 52 (S.B. 52) is an Ohio law proposed by two Republican senators, Bill Reineke and Rob McColley, in 2021.. S.B. 52 grants counties the authority to create restricted areas where the construction of economically significant, large wind and solar farms are prohibited. Under this law, the county government is required to create a map that shows the boundaries of the proposed restricted zones and post it to all public libraries in the county. A notice must also be given to school districts, town trustees, and municipal corporations that are located within the boundaries of the proposed restricted area. 

S.B. 52 passed in June 2021 with significant support from Ohio Republicans in the House and Senate. It went into effect in October 2021. As of September 2025, 37 Ohio counties have passed a solar-specific exclusion zone in at least one county township. The bill was drafted in order to give more power to local county governments and residents over the construction of solar and wind projects in their community. Another goal of the bill was to increase communication between renewable energy developers and county residents. This was mainly seen through the provision that requires renewable energy developers to hold public meetings for resident input if they want to develop within the county or their townships. 

House Bill 15: Priority Investment Areas

House Bill 15 (H.B. 15) is a bipartisan law that passed unanimously in the Senate and with a 92-4 vote in the House in April 2025. It went into effect in August 2025. . Among other energy provisions, H.B. 15 grants Ohio counties the ability to designate former coal mines and other brownfield sites – abandoned or underused land with suspected contamination – as Priority Investment Areas (PIA) for energy infrastructure development, including solar and wind farms. Under this law, energy development projects on PIA sites are entitled to expedited review and approval, speeding the processes through which new energy sites can be built. 

H.B. 15 bill was drafted in the hopes of encouraging more energy infrastructure development in Ohio by allowing counties to use their abandoned, contaminated lands for the development of a public good. This remedies a lot of the worries associated with new renewable energy projects, as a significant portion would supposedly be sited on “brownfields” and not on currently-used farmlands or natural habitats. 

Arguments for Increasing Renewable Developments in Ohio

Better for the environment and human health

A common argument in favor of renewable energy developments in Ohio communities is that renewable energy contributes to improved environmental and health outcomes. This is because solar and wind energy does not emit greenhouse gases, like sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon dioxide (CO2); limiting the local effects of climate change and improving air quality. This can, in turn, improve health outcomes. A national study reported that, “Combined, wind and solar generation led to 1,200 to 1,600 fewer premature mortalities in 2022 (based on a 5th–95th percentile range).”These premature deaths are caused by diseases linked to poor air quality, like asthma and lung cancer. In Ohio specifically, one study states that, based on the reduction of health-related damages, the combined health and environmental benefits from wind energy in Ohio values to $100 per megawatt hour (MWh). Additionally, a solar panel in Ohio equates to $75 per MWh in economic value. 

Economic gains from renewable developments 

Another argument for renewable energy developments in Ohio communities is that renewable projects can generate significant economic growth for a given community. The solar sector alone can support between 18,000 and 54,000 jobs during construction over several decades in the state. One study also shows that the wind energy sector increases employment within 20 miles of existing wind projects. Another study suggests that large-scale solar projects can increase nearby property values in midwestern states.These include short and long term construction jobs, as well as jobs for engineers, monitors, chemists, and physicists. 

Tax revenues can also be increased through solar and wind farm developments. According to a study from Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, solar energy can generate up to $67.5 million in local tax revenue annually for Ohio communities. Furthermore, many renewable projects negotiate Payments In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) agreements, which can provide a steady stream of income to county governments and their school districts.

Arguments for Limiting Renewable Developments in Ohio

Limited public support 

A common argument against renewable energy developments in Ohio communities is that some Ohio residents do not support renewable energy projects in their neighborhoods. Some common reasons why residents would be against local renewable energy developments include: the increased noise from turbines or solar panels, the greater congestion in communities because of the construction work, and the loss of natural areas within the community. 

Another concern is the potential negative impacts on property value that could follow from large-scale energy projects. Stakeholders argue that Senate Bill 52 allows for more local control over renewable energy developments .. However, not all Ohioans are against renewable energy developments in their communities. For instance, although Richland County banned significant solar and wind farms in 2025, there has been a pushback by the “Richland County Citizens for Property Rights and Job Development” to reverse the ban. 

Harms agricultural land 

Another argument against renewable energy developments in Ohio is that solar and wind projects can harm local agricultural land – which makes up approximately half of the state’s total land area. For instance, heavy machinery for the construction of wind and solar farms puts a lot of pressure on the ground, which can greatly compact the soil. This can harm the land’s ability to grow crops, since root growth will be inhibited by the tighter-packed ground. 

Furthermore, the leveling and burial operations that can occur during renewable energy construction can greatly loosen the soil. This can cause soil erosion, which occurs when the soil is removed from the ground and can be transported into waterways by wind or rain. Soil erosion not only reduces the nutrient capabilities in the soil, and therefore limits crop growth on the land, but can also lower the water quality in neighboring waterways if soil sediments fall into them. However, under House Bill 15, active agricultural lands wouldn’t be used for development since the construction of potential renewable energy farms would take place on abandoned and potentially contaminated “brownfields”. 

Solar and wind farms can also harm wildlife and soil if they are not recycled or disposed of properly at the end of their lifespan. Some residents of Paulding County are concerned by this, as there are worries that Paulding County will become an “industrial wasteland” if wind turbines are not disposed of properly. 

The Future of Wind and Solar Projects in Ohio

Renewable energy development in Ohio is still a divisive topic in many counties, with many renewable development bans still being made to this day. However, only time will tell how the future of Ohio renewable energy development will play out and how the synergy between S.B. 52 and H.B. 15 will be established. 

Given the increase in data center construction  across Ohio, energy development has become an increasingly pressing topic. . As stated by the International Energy Agency, “A typical AI-focused data center consumes as much electricity as 100,000 households, but the largest ones under construction today will consume 20 times as much.” This is making energy availability a central issue for Ohio voters. . Throughout all this, there are still renewable energy projects being constructed in Ohio. For wind farms, at least two projects are planned to go online before 2027, and there have been at least three solar projects that have been approved in 2025.

As Ohioans consider the tradeoffs associated with energy development, the future of renewables across the state remains to be determined. 

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