Ohio Chambers Publicly Support Development of Two Solar Projects That Will Deliver Millions to Local Economies

Written By Chambers for Innovation
Chamber Leaders and Ohio Speaker Larry Householder Celebrate Groundbreaking for Ohio’s Largest Solar Project
The Ohio solar industry recently achieved a major milestone when Ohio Speaker of the House Larry Householder helped break ground on the state's largest utility scale solar project to date: a 200-MW Hillcrest Solar farm in Brown County, powered by Ohio-made First Solar panels. Leaders from the Brown County Ohio and the Highland County Chambers of Commerce, as well as the Brown County economic development director welcomed Speaker Householder, who spoke at the ceremony and picked up a shovel to break ground on the project.

Noting this development was directly aligned with the Chamber’s mission to enhance economic growth in the Brown County area, Board Chair Darrin Schneider said they were very glad to support the project.

“We thank the Speaker for his personal engagement in a project that he described as ‘something really big for the state of Ohio,’” said Schneider. “He’s demonstrating great leadership, and we look forward to a continued partnership with Speaker Householder. The anticipated tax base growth, new career pathways, and the opportunity to strengthen our community should provide well for many aspects of our county."

The Hillcrest Solar project that will produce enough energy to power 39,000 homes and will be a major contributor to the local and Ohio economies by:
  • creating 300 construction jobs (80% of which state law requires be Ohio residents)
  • generating approximately $69 million in wages
  • generating $60 million in property taxes to Brown County, Western Brown School District, and Green Township
  • utilizing solar panels manufactured by Ohio's own First Solar
  • growing the local supply chain to service the project and support its employees

The development will also help pay to develop a solar career training program at Southern State Community College.
Photo Above: Darrin Schneider, Chairman of the Board, Brown County Ohio Chamber of Commerce and Destiny Bryson, Executive Director, Highland County Chamber of Commerce greet Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder at the groundbreaking for the Hillcrest Solar project.
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Highland County Chamber Supports and Provides Educational Opportunities for Willowbrook Solar
The Highland County Chamber of Commerce, in February, hosted a widely attended forum that convened elected officials, ag experts, and the community at large to update them on efforts to support agricultural communities, including solar energy development. The event, titled, “Ag is Everyone’s Business,” was headlined by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, who talked about the importance of helping farmers and developing rural areas. Solar development was then addressed as one of three agricultural business sessions.

Attendees in the solar energy business session learned about the Willowbrook Solar Project, one of Ohio’s first utility-scale solar projects, sited for construction within Highland County. Representatives of the project developers, RWE Renewables America LLC and Open Road Renewables, presented facts about the project and answered questions.
Destiny Bryson, Executive Director of the Highland County Chamber of Commerce
Ohio Governor Mike Dewine
Additionally, in the week leading up to the forum, Ohio State University Ag Extension experts provided training sessions to farmers on how to negotiate solar leases.

“A large, utility-scale project such as Willowbrook Solar will be a reliable source of income for farmers and a very good source of tax revenue for schools and local governments in the years to come,” said Highland County Chamber Executive Director Destiny Bryson. “We’re helping to answer questions from farmers, contractors, workers, and the community at large who want to understand how solar development can be an opportunity for them.”

At a capacity of 150 Megawatts, the Willowbrook Solar Project will be constructed and operate within an approximately 2,200-acre area of privately owned land approximately 2 miles east of Mowrystown, Ohio and is expected to generate approximately $1.2 million annually to the local tax base. Willowbrook intends to begin construction this year and place the facility in service in 2021.
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COVID-19 Postponement:
Solar Tour for Chamber Leaders
The tour of First Solar’s manufacturing facility in Perrysburg, co-hosted by the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy, originally scheduled for March 25, will be rescheduled for a future date amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Once a new date is selected, the day will feature networking with peer chamber leaders, a tour of First Solar and a nearby solar development, and a roundtable discussion over lunch.
Please contact susan@chambersforinnovation.com if you’d like to attend this event once a new date has been identified.

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Chambers for Innovation