Third solar energy site proposed in Ross County
CHILLICOTHE— A 59 Megawatt solar farm titled "Oak" is proposed in Deerfield and Union Townships, Eastern Region Project Development Director Bill Behling of Innergex Renewable Energy told the Ross County Board of Commissioners Monday.
The proposed solar farm, located in the area of Ohio 207 and Westfall Road, would become the third solar farm in Ohio run by Innergex, which also has sites in Brown and Highland counties.
The two existing projects each generate a total of 200 Megawatts and produce enough energy to power 39,000 Ohio homes per year.
Together, the two projects are expected to generate $54 million in local revenue over a 30 year lifespan.
The Quebec, Canada-based company runs approximately 80 sites across Canada, the United States, France, and Chile, and has a net worth of around $6.5 billion.
The 500 acre project would connect with the Biers Run to Circleville 138kv transmission line.
The 59 Megawatt solar farm could produce the energy equivalent of 11,500 Ohio homes with no emissions and produce about half a million per year in local revenue, said Behling.
The Oak Solar Project is currently completing interconnection studies. The systems impact study will be completed on Dec. 15, said Behling. A facilities study will be completed in June 2023. An environmental study will begin early next year.
"We now would expect to sign an interconnection agreement in July of 2023," he said. "That's a period of over 1000 days- it was supposed to be a two-year process but now we're well over three years," he said.
Construction will likely begin in the third quarter of 2021, with a nine to 12 month construction process to follow.
The solar farm is the third proposed solar farm in Ross County, with two others operated by Minnesota-based National Grid renewables.
At Monday's commissioner's meeting, Paint Valley Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health (ADAMH) Executive Director Penny Dehner also announced that they have hired Grand Rapids, MI-based TBD Solutions to conduct a needs assessment for crisis services in Ross County, to assess needs for both children and adults. The assessment will be completed in June.
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Third solar energy site proposed in Ross County
