Landowners like Wayne Greier need support to protect their land rights
Wayne Greier’s family has farmed in Green Township, Ohio, for generations. The land they steward dates back more than 165 years, representing a legacy of resilience built through hard work and sacrifice. In recent years, that legacy came under threat in ways the family never imagined.
In 2020, Wayne faced a life-threatening battle with COVID-19 that led to extended hospital stays, multiple emergency surgeries and a long recovery. The financial toll was steep, forcing Wayne and his wife to deplete their savings, sell land and liquidate assets. With few options left, Wayne turned to leasing his farmland to a solar developer as a path forward.
“[Solar leasing] provided a stable income, allowing us to make loan payments while keeping our land in agricultural production,” said Wayne. “We could even raise sheep under the solar panels, embracing innovative agrivoltaics practices.”
– Wayne Greier
In 2023, Ohio’s Senate Bill 52 gave township trustees new authority to block commercial solar projects, eliminating the landowners’ right to decide how to use their land. The trustees in Wayne’s township moved to ban solar development without consulting with Wayne or his family.
“The community, fueled by misinformation and fearmongering, turned against us,” said Wayne. “At public meetings, people spread outright lies about solar projects. My family was personally attacked, my children were harassed at school, and the hostility became so intense that we had to pull them out.”
The trustees never allowed the Greier family to present their case, shattering Wayne’s hope for securing his family’s future with the farm.
Wayne’s story is not unique. Across the country, farmers are exploring renewable energy as a way to protect their operations only to face bans, misinformation and lost opportunities. That is why Wayne supports the Renewable Energy Farmers of America (REFA) – because it exists to help landowners protect that right.
REFA provides guidance and support in the face of increasing restrictions and misinformation. Its members have access to a trusted network of peers and professional advisors and a voice in local, state and national conversations about energy and land use. For Wayne, that kind of support is essential, not only for his family, but for future generations of farmers who may face similar challenges.
REFA stands with farmers and ranchers working to protect their land, livelihoods and legacy.
