State regulators OK huge Ohio solar plant

by Mark Williams, Columbus

Dispatch USA TODAY NETWORK Read the full story in the Columbus Dispatch

State regulators on Thursday approved one of the country’s biggest solar farms: A Madison County project covering 6,050 acres partially owned by Bill Gates despite strong opposition from local officials.

The Oak Run Solar Project is an 800 megawatt solar farm and 300-megawatt energy storage system planned for Monroe, Somerford and Deercreek townships along State Route 29. The site is north of London near Plumwood, about 25 miles west of Columbus.

Oak Run to deploy nation’s largest agrivoltaic program

Savion has promised to turn Oak Run into the largest agrivoltaic program in the country in which the company will plant crops and graze livestock in the rows of the solar panels and the perimeter of the project.

In the first year of operation, Oak Run must graze at least 1,000 sheep and grow crops on 2,000 acres. Within eight years of operation, at least 70% of the farmable project area, or at least 4,000 acres, must include agrivoltaics.

Agrivoltaics addresses a big complaint the solar farms take big chunks of prime farmland out of production. Also, this project will include contracts with local farmers and businesses.

The project also will generate $8.2 million a year in revenue for local governments and schools. Other conditions of the project include perimeter fencing, setbacks of 150 feet to roadways and non-participating property boundaries, and 300 feet to non-participating homes.

Union officials also celebrated the vote, saying the project will create 1,500 construction jobs.

Read the full story in the Columbus Dispatch