Solar energy taking off in Ohio and poised to do even more

There’s big news for Ohio solar recently: state government cleared the path for construction of three utility-scale solar projects in April, and a fourth broke ground in March. Together, these will generate 600 megawatts and $5.3 million in annual local taxes. In addition, land lease payments will provide farmers steady income, and rural communities will get new jobs. Did I mention more than 600,000 Ohio-made First Solar panels will be used on one project alone?

This is welcome clean energy growth, all-the-more important during COVID, since solar provides recession-proof, reliable revenue for decades.

Locally, Lakewood is installing solar on city buildings, reducing utility bills while improving air quality. Cleveland Heights is considering the same.

Lakewood also uses clean energy generated off-site and set a goal to use 100 percent clean power by 2025.

Ohio Speaker Larry Householder says he wants Ohio dollars buying clean energy from in-state projects, driving Ohio employment. He’s right about that—100 percent right.

Right now, some of Lakewood’s clean energy dollars go out-of-state. How much stronger would it be for Ohio’s jobs base if they all stayed home? To achieve that, we’ll need more Ohio-based solar.

Let’s make Ohio’s new solar farms the start of still bigger things to come.