While Hillcrest Solar I, which is owned by Blue Planet Renewable Energy, has received an approval to build the 125MW Hillcrest Solar Farm, Hardin Solar Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Invenergy Solar Development North America has won an approval to construct 150MW Hardin Solar Center.  

While the first solar farm will be located in Green Township, Brown County, the second farm will be located in Hardin County.

The first solar farm will be constructed on 1,100 privately-owned acres of land in Green Township and the second solar farm on 1,115 acres of leased land in Marion, Roundhead, and McDonald townships.

The two solar farms will include ground-mounted solar panels, along with associated support facilities, access roads, meteorological stations, buried electrical collection lines and a substation.

In January, OPSB had approved AEP Ohio Transmission Company (AEP Ohio Transco) to construct two electric transmission line projects in southeastern Ohio.

The first project will be constructed in Washington County. AEP Ohio Transco will build the 15.7-mile long Macksburg-Devola 138kV transmission line project. The line will also connect to the proposed Buell Substation and the existing Highland Ridge Substation operated by Washington Electric Cooperative.

The second project, the West Bellaire-Glencoe Transmission Line Project will be constructed in Belmont County. This is an upgrading project, where 6-miles of existing 69kV transmission line will be upgraded to 138kV and will traverse Pultney, Richland and Smith townships between the existing West Bellaire and Glencoe substations.

These two transmission projects are expected to improve the quality and reliability of electric services in the region.


Image: Ohio’s new solar farms could generate hundreds of jobs during the construction phase. Photo: Courtesy of franky242/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.