![If Samsung's deal for Stark County farmland goes through, it is expected to be operational in March 2024. [Jasper Code / Shutterstock]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/449a555/2147483647/strip/true/crop/980x551+0+0/resize/840x472!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fimages%2Fnews%2Fnpr%2F2021%2F09%2Fshutterstock_1751856554-Jasper-Code.jpg)
Samsung Renewable Energy is planning to lease an 800-acre property in Washington Township near Alliance, using the land to build a solar farm.
The deal could be impacted by Ohio Senate Bill 52, which will go into effect Oct. 11. The new law allows county commissioners to prevent solar and wind farms from being built in their counties.
The Stark County Regional Planning Commission has been in ongoing negotiations with Samsung. The commission’s Chief of Planning Jonelle Melnichenko says Samsung hopes to wrap up the agreement before the new law takes effect.
“It adds a little more local control to the project, but this one is coming at a time when it might be grandfathered in before that bill takes effect, or if not then it would be subject to those requirements,” she said.
Senate Bill 52 also allows citizens to gather signatures for petitions to take the issue to the ballot if they disagree with their county’s decision.
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