LISBON, Ohio (WKBN) — The public hearing on solar and wind farms Wednesday in Lisbon brought a packed house, as county commissioners are considering a ban.

Residents of four townships in Columbiana County made their voices heard Wednesday morning on both sides of a proposal regarding potential development of solar energy farms in the county.

“The technology’s not there to produce enough electricity to justify coming in and destroying everybody’s property,” said Robert Powell.

Some say they want the right to use their land as they see fit.

“The proposed ban on a solar facility would take away my rights concerning the use of my property,” said Duane Prusia.

A Canadian firm known locally as both Algonquin and Liberty Energy is looking to develop 1,000 acres in Franklin Township for a large-scale solar array. Officials say the project would take land equal to 400 football fields.

Many of the opponents in the crowd wore matching t-shirts to show where they stand.

“We’re here because we plan on shutting down this project, and we don’t want any new solar companies coming here with more bad ideas,” said Diane Brown.

Although developers of the Algonquin-Liberty project are now before the Ohio Power Siting Board in Columbus waiting to hear a ruling on their request, a number of townships have asked commissioners to ban the projects in their communities.

Although no one from the company attended Wednesday’s meeting, commissioners admit they’ll need to hold at least one more hearing to accommodate other townships requesting bans. At this point, officials can’t say when they’ll take a vote.

“We need to start thinking about the future of our land,” said Henry Berfield.