Commissioner Michael Yoder has resigned as the ad-hoc appointee to the Ohio Power Siting Board as it related to the Grange Project of Open Road Renewables.
In a letter submitted today to the Ohio Power Siting Board, Yoder cited the reason for his resignation as “that the Grange Solar project attorney has filed a Motion to Strike the
Commissioners’ notice of intervention filed January 22, alleging that Commissioner Joseph Antram was ethically prohibited from voting on the resolution to intervene, as a portion of the proposed project will be abutting his real estate, namely the proposed panels sited on parcels owned by Amshel Investments Limited Partnership to the west and northwest, Christine Dickson to the south, and Gary Hoffman to the east, and a potential “laydown” yard on one of Amshel’s parcels (See Application Exhibit A, filed October 11, 2024).”
Yoder strongly disagrees with the allegation of ethical conflict, saying “Owning a neighboring property is NOT within criteria to disqualify an ad hoc member. If it were, the legislature would have considered it when enacting SB52 in 2021.”
He says it is obvious to him that Commissioner Antram formed his general stance based on constituent input to restrict large-scale solar development within Logan County, some two years before Grange disclosed the map location.
“I believe the allegation of an ethical conflict is pointless,” Yoder stated, “as Commissioner Antram has a duty to the citizens of Logan County as an elected official, and will not stand to personally benefit or incur a detriment by this project apart from the broader impact to Logan County. However, litigating this issue would likely result in further delay. Therefore, I have no alternative at this time.”
Yoder requested permission to appoint a replacement for his position as the ad hoc representative who meets the criteria, as he is still needed to continue representing the citizens of Logan County in this matter.
