In the political battle to take down a ban on industrial solar projects in Richland County, supporters of solar power raised $21 for every $1 opponents spent to keep a ban, elections records show.
The vast majority of that money, however, didn’t come from Richland County — or Ohio.
The campaign finance report for Richland County Citizens for Property Rights and Job Development, which was filed June 10, lists $84,853.94 in funding with $82,261.18 of expenditures, for a remaining balance of $2,592.76. The document also listed its “value of in-kind contributions received” as $343,828.42.
The post-primary report for Richland Farmland Preservation, which was dated June 9, noted $16,100 in funding with $15,147.92 in expenditures, for a remaining balance of $952.08. RFP had no in-kind contributions.
Voters on May 5 rejected the referendum, with 12,189 votes (52.90%) in favor of the ban and 10,853 (47.10%) against, according to Matt Finfgeld, director of the Richland County Board of Elections.
‘This level of outside spending is a record’
Major donations came from the New York-based Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund with in-kind contributions: $200,000 worth of “paid media” and another $50,000 in “ads.”
“This level of outside spending is a record for the duration that Jane Zimmermann and I have served as directors,” Finfgeld said.
Those numbers were a shock to Richland County Commissioner Darrell Banks.
“There’s a lot of money from outside Richland County,” Banks said.
The commissioner said he thinks those donors should have spent that money in their own states rather than try to influence elections in Ohio.
“This should be decided by people that it affects,” Banks said. “Our voters were smart enough to see through that and not let them decide what we’re going to do in Richland County.”
What is Richland County’s ban on industrial solar?
In July 2025, commissioners voted to prohibit the construction of industrial solar fields in unincorporated areas of 11 townships: Bloominggrove, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Mifflin, Monroe, Perry, Plymouth, Sharon, Troy and Weller.
Such projects remained legal in the county’s other townships and all incorporated areas (like cities and villages).
The referendum, had it succeeded with enough “no” votes, would have removed the ban and allowed industrial solar projects throughout the entire county.
Contact Zach Tuggle at 419-564-3508. Follow him on X at @zachtuggle.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Richland County solar referendum attracted $250,000 from New York
Reporting by Zach Tuggle, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Zach Tuggle, Mansfield News Journal | USA TODAY Network
