LISBON — The Columbiana County commissioners approved a ban on construction of large solar facilities and large wind farms in unincorporated areas of Fairfield, Franklin, Perry and West townships Wednesday.

They also set a date of 9:10 a.m. April 26 for a public hearing for an additional seven townships requesting their unincorporated areas be designated as restricted, to prohibit construction of large solar facilities and large wind farms in those areas.

Butler, Center, Middleton, Salem, Unity, Wayne and Washington townships all submitted resolutions to the commissioners which were accepted last week.

That leaves only seven townships in the county that have not sought to ban large solar facilities and wind farms in their unincorporated areas.

The vote by commissioners does not stop the Kensington Solar project in Franklin Township since the project had already been submitted to the Ohio Power Siting Board. The project remains pending, with the permit fee still not paid according to Commissioner Tim Weigle.

Weigle abstained from the vote on the ban since he’s an ad hoc member of the Ohio Power Siting Board. Commissioner Mike Halleck made the motion to approve the ban in Fairfield, Franklin, Perry and West townships, seconded by Commission Chairman Roy Paparodis. Both Halleck and Paparodis voted yes.

“I’m not against solar. I’m not against wind. I’m for all types of energy,” Halleck said, but added that he’s “against disturbing the community.”

He also said the commissioners received several letters regarding the situation and they’re running 100 to 1 against those type of projects.

During a public hearing two weeks ago, there were people who spoke on both sides of the fence regarding large solar and large wind projects. Many spoke out in favor of the ban, pointing to what they say will happen when Kensington Solar puts up solar panels, decrying the detriment that may occur to farm lands, local wildlife, and the town of Summitville.

Others spoke against the ban and in favor of wind and solar facilities, saying it’s an attack against personal property rights and that the county could benefit from the tax income.

Commissioners made no other statements regarding the decision.

A copy of the notice for the seven additional townships, along with a map, will be posted in all public libraries in Columbiana County and published in the Morning Journal.

Written testimony can be sent to the commissioners’ office prior to the public meeting at 105 S. Market St., Lisbon, Ohio 44432.

In a related matter, representatives of Laborers’ Local 809, including Shella Rupa and Business Manager Clint Powell, attended the meeting and asked commissioners to recommend any solar projects that do come to the county use Ohio union laborers and pay a living wage. Rupa said by using Ohio workers, “tax dollars generated here stay here.”

There’s already a three-trade agreement for electricians, laborers and operating engineers in place for solar facilities, according to Rupa and Powell, with facilities in the works in Harrison and Jefferson counties. Laborers’ Local 809, which is part of Laborers’ International Union of North America, serves Columbiana, Harrison and Jefferson counties in Ohio and Brooke and Hancock counties in West Virginia.