Judging by how things have gone to this point, the future of solar and wind energy in The Valley isn't exactly bright.
All 18 townships in Columbiana County have banned them.
Mahoning County commissioners have done the same in Green Township.

Thursday, the commissioners joined other leaders and residents for a public hearing on restricting solar and wind projects in 10 other townships.

"It is my job as township president of the (Mahoning County Townships) Association to ensure the townships of Mahoning County have a voice to be heard and to ensure the county commissioners provide a platform to hear our voices," said Bob Santos, who also serves as an Austintown Township trustee.

While many voices joined the existing chorus against the idea...

"I don't want to see...I don't even want to see small scale (solar or wind projects) around me. I don't want to see it," said George Scott of Ellsworth Township.

...this meeting saw many others plead a different case.

"If we want advancement in our area, we really have to just start thinking cleaner energy," said Patricia Dunbar of Youngstown.

David McBride of Boardman added "solar trash is composed of the same things that large screen televisions and computer electronics are made from. We've been getting rid of those for decades and no one's thought anything of it. But now that we're thinking about solar farms, it's 'Whoa! This is a big deal!'"

Lots of Youngstown folks also came supporting alternative energy in the wake of the Ohio EPA granting permits for the SOBE thermal energy plant.
While commissioners didn't decide anything Thursday, they may at essentially any time.