Antioch College owns the land, which is zoned as E-1, Educational Use. Building solar panels would be a conditional use and need village officials’ approval. A group of villagers are afraid the panels will greatly reduce the green space within the village.
“It is our desire for our school to be the first school run entirely, heated and cooled, on green energy,” said Antioch College President Mark Roosevelt. “The solar panels will provide almost the exact amount of electricity needed for the Central Geothermal Plant.”
“If we are going to give up rare valuable green space, I want to know if it is worth the trade” said Hilary Peirson, a Yellow Springs resident since childhood.
A group of residents questioned the impact of the panels on the health and safety of the neighbors, the size of the solar panels, their location, sink holes and water run-off on the land and the process the college is taking to implement the project.
Others unhappy with Antioch’s process
“It has been the process that has troubled me and has demanded me to stand up and have a voice” said Ryan Peirson, Yellow Springs resident.
Solar Power and Light of Miamisburg is building the solar panels for the school. “The way we are financing this is through a purchasing power agreement,” said Reggie Stratton, director of physical planning for Antioch College. The solar panels ares supposed to save the college $400,000 a year.
The solar panels would be seven feet tall and would need an eight foot tall chain link fence to protect the citizens from the high voltage. Citizens in the area are afraid the chain link fence will not fit the image of the neighborhood.
“We are definitely going to work on the aesthetics,” said Stratton. “The rest of the acres on south campus surrounding the solar panels are going to be used for a farm. We will be growing vegetables garden. Our plan is to improve the aesthetics with nature. The Glen Helen 1,000 aces that we have put in perpetuity, something so it can never be built on. It is wooded land it is open to the public and an incredible resource,” said Roosevelt.
“The open green space has been used by citizens for 84 years, and I think it should stay that way,” said resident Phil King.
“We don’t have an ocean or a big lake, but we have this open green space for people to enjoy” said Chad Stiles, who said he was a Yellow Springs resident for 30 plus years.
A public meeting on June 9 sparked heavy discussion about building the solar panels. On June 23 there will be another public meeting on the topic.
About the Author