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Fake Comments Challenge Ohio Energy Decisions
Coverage from Ohio Capital Journal, Cleveland Scene, and others
Suspected fabricated public comments are complicating energy-project permitting and climate-related regulatory proceedings in Ohio and other U.
S. states. The Ohio Power Siting Board denied Open Road Renewables' proposed 94-megawatt Crossroads Solar Grazing Center after citing substantial opposition that included duplicate, anonymous, or unverifiable submissions. The disputes are prompting calls for stronger comment verification, while New York has pursued financial penalties and California is considering limits on deceptive AI-generated submissions.
If you read one thing
It provides the clearest, broadest account of how disputed comments affected an Ohio solar decision and exposed verification and enforcement gaps.
Fabricated input is affecting energy-permitting decisions
Apparently fabricated, duplicate, anonymous, or unverifiable comments distorted assessments of public opposition in energy proceedings. In the Ohio solar case, the project was denied despite evidence that removing disputed submissions revealed substantial local support.
Verification and enforcement remain weak
Agencies have limited mechanisms for authenticating submissions and have rarely pursued suspected manipulation. Ohio rules were clarified, but the supplied reporting indicates no prosecutions or enforcement actions under the relevant framework, leaving deceptive campaigns largely addressed through warnings rather than penalties.
10 years
period in which the Ohio Power Siting Board had not referred fake comments for prosecution
“The Ohio Power Siting Board said it had not referred fake comments for prosecution in the previous 10 years.”
2025
year Ohio revised its administrative code
“Ohio revised its administrative code in 2025 to clarify that deceptive consumer practices include using fine print online and other misleading actions to gather names for submissions to public agencies. No enforcement action has yet been taken under the new rule, according to the Ohio attorney general’s office.”
past decade years
period during which the Ohio Power Siting Board made no prosecution referrals
“The Ohio Power Siting Board has not referred any fake public comments for prosecution during the past decade.”
nearly half
share of comments from nearby towns supporting the project
“Its analysis found that nearly half of the comments from people in nearby towns supported the project after duplicate, anonymous and unverifiable submissions were removed.”
$615,000 U.S. dollars
settlement amount
“In 2023, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a $615,000 settlement with companies responsible for millions of fake comments urging regulators to repeal net-neutrality rules.”
No new-member articles were supplied, so there is no evidence of a material change in the Topic.
Previously
Suspected fabricated public comments are complicating energy-project permitting and climate-related regulatory proceedings in Ohio and other U.S. states. The Ohio Power Siting Board denied Open Road Renewables' proposed 94-megawatt Crossroads Solar Grazing Center after citing substantial opposition that included duplicate, anonymous, or unverifiable submissions. The disputes are prompting calls for stronger comment verification, while New York has pursued financial penalties and California is considering limits on deceptive AI-generated submissions.