DELAWARE, Ohio – The Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association (OCWGA) celebrates the recent signing of an energy policy that prioritizes the redevelopment of abandoned brownfields and former coal mines for clean energy production. This important initiative, originally supported and proposed by OCWGA, aids in repurposing underutilized properties while protecting and preserving Ohio’s valuable farmland.
House Bill 15, signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine on May 15, 2025, marks a significant shift in Ohio’s approach to energy development and will take effect in early August. The legislation allows local governments—cities, townships, and counties—to request the designation of Priority Investment Areas (PIAs) on former coal mines and brownfields. These zones support redevelopment projects focused on improving the transportation and transmission of electricity and natural gas, advancing Ohio’s clean energy goals while helping to preserve the state’s valuable farmland.
“We’re encouraged to see the Ohio General Assembly and Governor DeWine recognize and support our belief that it’s essential to repurpose abandoned sites across the state while protecting farmland that is disappearing at an alarming rate,” said Tadd Nicholson, Executive Director of the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association. “We continue to urge investors to rethink how green energy solutions—like solar panels and wind turbines—can be implemented in ways that strengthen communities without encroaching on productive farmland.”
Key Highlights of House Bill 15:
- Encourages clean energy projects on old industrial and mining sites
- Cuts taxes on new energy projects, making it more affordable to build solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage
- Gives businesses and farms more freedom to generate their own power
- Supports upgrades to Ohio’s electric grid
“This is an important step toward finding creative, beneficial solutions for sites that have sat vacant and unproductive for too long,” said Tadd Nicholson. “It’s also a great opportunity for all of us to rethink how we use land in Ohio. We’re committed to leading the tough conversations around community redevelopment and encouraging developers and decision makers to build upward, not outward, so we can protect Ohio’s rural farmland.”
The Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association supports issues that expand market opportunities for Ohio farmers. Discover more about land use and key policy priorities by clicking here.
