Solar panels plan stirs debate in Yellow Springs

A plan to install an array of solar panels has stirred energized debate among people in this village, and the talk is not all positive.

Antioch College wants to be the first to harness enough solar energy to power a college campus, but families and others in the village are concerned about that idea.

The college's plan is to install panels on a grass covered lot of nearly 5 acres on Corry Street. Each panel would be about 7 feet tall.

"This is what we ought to be doing and though some people might find it unattractive, other people actually find it quite beautiful," Antioch's president, Mark Roosevelt, said. He told News Center 7's Kate Bartley on Monday night that private funds would cover the installation costs and the solar array would save the college an estimated $400,000 a year.

Village residents worry that the high-voltage area would be dangerous and the 8-foot high chain link fence that would be needed to surround it would be ugly.

The college wants to cover the fence with artwork.

"I'm just really glad that many people in the village are willing to stand up and say you know, this land is valuable to us. just as open green space," said one resident, Chad Stiles.

The village planning commission, which convened Monday night at the Bryan Community Center to hear the public on the issue of a conditional use application for a solar array, will revisit the issue in a few weeks.

We'll be there to bring you the details of that meeting and any decision that arises from it.

Stay with News Center 7 and whio.com for breaking news.

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