Could Ohio’s New Tech-Neutral Energy Law Ignite a Solar Revolution on Abandoned Mines in 2025?
Ohio’s 2025 energy law opens brownfields for solar development, offering tax breaks and big grants to jumpstart renewable projects statewide.
- 600,000+ acres of Ohio brownfields and minelands are now primed for solar
- Up to $10M in grants available for site cleanup
- 34 counties previously banned new solar projects—now, doors are opening
- Property tax exemptions slash clean energy development costs
Ohio just cracked open the door for a solar revolution. Governor Mike DeWine’s new “tech-neutral” law, signed in May, is set to turbocharge not just traditional power but also renewables—potentially transforming neglected brownfields and abandoned coal mines into the Buckeye State’s next clean energy hotspots.
This marks an extraordinary shift for Ohio. In recent years, restrictive local rules crushed any solar ambition in 34 of Ohio’s 88 counties. Even now, local officials still wield enormous veto power. But the new law pushes change by flipping the script: instead of fighting for farmland, solar projects can bloom on long-forgotten lands where industrial scars run deep and development costs ran even deeper.
What’s behind the change? Money talks—and the new law makes it rain. Developers who tackle these challenging sites could score property tax exemptions and grants as high as $10 million, reducing the risk and boosting profit on projects that also heal Ohio’s landscape.
Experts like Michael Benson of Green Energy Ohio praise the move as economic common sense. After all, those brownfields are already laced with roads and power lines—perfect infrastructure for solar’s next stage. And, as Rebecca Mellino from The Nature Conservancy points out, Ohio’s staggering 600,000 acres of old mine lands are just waiting for a second life.
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Q: How Does the New Law Give Solar Companies a Boost?
A: For the first time, any solar project sited on brownfields or closed mines can dodge hefty property taxes and apply for mega-cleanup grants. These incentives mean old industrial lands are suddenly in play—less red tape, more financial upside, and a much easier pitch to local communities wary of losing farmland.
Q: Can Local County Officials Still Block Solar Projects?
A: Local governments still wield influence—but the combination of incentives and a shift away from farmland could make them more willing to greenlight new projects, especially when cleanup funding sweetens the deal. The law also relaxes rules on “behind-the-meter” solar generation, allowing energy-sharing microgrids that can power not just one customer but whole neighborhoods.
How to Maximize Opportunity: Steps for Ohio Solar Developers
- Scout brownfields and old mine sites for solar suitability—target those with infrastructure access
- Apply for available grants early; cleanup funds could go fast
- Engage with community and local leaders to highlight economic and environmental benefits
- Design projects that can support shared power solutions, opening doors for microgrid innovation
What’s Next for Ohio Clean Energy?
Solar companies still face challenges—local resistance, policy headwinds, and the sheer cost of cleanup. But with nearly unlimited untapped land and bigger incentives, 2025 could be the year Ohio’s energy map is redrawn.
Ready to see Ohio’s solar future shine?
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