Ohio opens stateÂ’s largest solar farm

UPPER SANDUSKY, OHIO - Ohio Governor Ted Strickland joined The Public Service Enterprise Group, Ohio State University President Dr. E. Gordon Gee, American Electric Power and other area leaders to open the PSEG Wyandot Solar Farm in Upper Sandusky.

The 80 acre, 12-megawatt facility becomes the largest solar energy facility operating in Ohio and one of the largest in the United States east of the Mississippi River.

“Today we are flipping the switch on Ohio’s largest solar farm. But we’re really flipping the switch on the future,” Strickland said. “Because we made a commitment to advanced energy in Senate Bill 221, the sun will not only power Ohio homes, it will power Ohio jobs. We have solar panels made in Perrysburg. Installed by Ohioans. And creating clean, renewable energy for Ohio businesses.”

“Ohio is a leader in advanced energy,” Strickland added. “You can see that right here.”

The stateÂ’s energy legislation calls for 25 percent of all energy consumed by Ohioans to come from advanced energy sources by 2025. Of that, 0.5 percent must be solar energy.

Owned by PSEG Solar Source, the solar farm is an example of OhioÂ’s growing clean-energy economy. It was built by Ohio workers with much of the equipment produced in state.

With more than 159,000 ground-mounted panels on 80 acres, the PSEG Wyandot Solar Farm produces enough emission-free electricity to power about 1,500 homes.

The Ohio State University Extension helped Wyandot County officials study the project and organize public forums.

“Helping to connect the state’s many remarkable resources for the lasting benefit of all Ohioans is one of the University’s great missions as a land grant and research institution,” said Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee. “We are honored that Ohio State Extension played a role in bringing this project to life.”

Juwi Solar Inc. was the engineering, procurement and construction contractor and developed the Wyandot Solar Farm. Vaughn Industries, based in Wyandot County, was the primary construction contractor. Ohio residents filled nearly all of the construction jobs created by the project. First Solar, which has a major manufacturing plant in Perrysburg, OH, supplied the solar panels. Myers Controlled Power of North Canton, OH, provided the power stations.

“You don’t have to be from Wyandot County or even the state of Ohio to be proud of what has been accomplished here,” said PSEG’s Chairman, CEO and President Ralph Izzo. “The Wyandot Solar Farm points the way forward, and is both an environmental and economic win. As a nation, we can all benefit from a future with more green energy that improves our energy security, helps in the fight against climate change and creates good jobs.”

American Electric Power subsidiaries, Columbus Southern Power and Ohio Power Companies, have a long-term agreement with PSEG Solar Source to purchase the electricity generated at the farm. The solar farm links to the grid at the Upper Sandusky Substation via a four-mile long generator lead.

“Responding to Ohio Senate Bill 221 presented many choices to investor-owned utilities in complying with the law’s renewable portfolio standard,” said Joseph Hamrock, President of AEP Ohio. “It was our choice to initiate a process that would not only build solar and wind facilities in Ohio, but help the alternative energy market actually grow and develop in the state.”

“This is an important milestone for PSEG Solar Source, demonstrating our ability to successfully develop, construct and operate utility scale projects,” said Diana Drysdale Vice President Renewables for PSEG Energy Holdings and head of PSEG Solar Source. “Solar farms like this one in Wyandot County, boost local economies through direct project related employment and the development of skills and experience that will increasingly be in demand. These projects are effectively driving down the cost of solar power enabling it to become a meaningful part of the energy mix.”