GREENFORD, Ohio - The Mahoning County Commissioners are holding a public hearing Monday on restricting the construction of large solar and wind power generating facilities in unincorporated areas of Green Township.

The hearing is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., on Monday, October 30, 2023, at the Greenford Christian Church, 11767 Lisbon Road, Greenford.

Texas-based Alpin Sun is proposing a $150 million solar farm, which developers say would bring an estimated 150 construction jobs and $42.4 million in tax revenue to Mahoning County over its lifespan.

Developers say the project would include zones of green spaces and trees between the panels to provide a habitat for local wildlife, including bees and plants.

The plan also calls for the decommissioning and recycling of the solar panels at the end of their lifespan, with the land being returned to agricultural or other uses.

Some residents are concerned over the loss of agricultural property as well as the possibility of high wind events.

Under an Ohio law that went into effect in 2021, the board of county commissioners may adopt a resolution designating all or part of the unincorporated area of a county as a restricted area, prohibiting the construction of an economically significant wind farm, a large wind farm, and a large solar facility.