Missed opportunities
Doug Herling, a vice president at energy developer Open Road Renewables, has a question for the court: “Why did you run out the clock?”
Herling’s company isn’t a party in Kingwood Solar, but it had cases of its own last year and this year in which the OPSB or its staff likewise deferred to local government opposition and denied permits.
Vesper Energy declined to comment at this time. Under the Ohio Supreme Court’s rules, its response to the OPSB’s dismissal motion is due by July 13, but the court could rule before then.
“The court’s delay and rejection of Kingwood’s motion for expedited ruling has complicated this case in a way that wasn’t necessary,” said Karin Nordstrom, an attorney with the Ohio Environmental Council, which has been a party in several related cases. Regardless of PJM’s deadline, though, “getting a resolution and clarity from the court on this issue remains a matter of great public interest,” Nordstrom said.
