Solar farm could come to Erie County

GROTON TWP. — Apex Clean Energy wants to invest more than $100 million in Erie County with its new solar energy project. Apex, the same company behind the proposed Emerson Creek Wind Farm in Erie and Huron counties, wants to construct the Wheatsborough Solar Project in Groton Township south of the Ohio Turnpike and north of Bellevue. "Apex is excited to deepen our investment in northern Ohio and bring this economic development to Erie County," company spokesperson Drew Christensen said. The company would operate the solar farm separately from the Emerson Creek Wind Project. A map showing the planned area for the Wheatsborough Solar Project in orange. Register graphic/MICHAEL HARRINGTON Most people think Ohio's mercurial weather would make it an inefficient location for solar power, but the developers estimate the project would generate 125 megawatts, which is enough power for 21,000 homes. "The project area's weather has been intensively studied and, between grid demand and advances in solar panel technology, this area is now highly viable for a solar farm," Christensen said. "One of the benefits of solar projects is they produce the largest amount of power during the afternoon when demand on the grid is the highest." He estimates the project would cost between $100 million and $150 million. The company hopes to obtain a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) program for the project. A PILOT is a set payment over the life span of the project that wouldn't change over time, like property taxes. The Erie County commissioners would need to approve it. "We told the project manager that when they formally request the PILOT, we would go through the same process that we did with the wind farm, meaning formal public hearings to gauge the community's view on it," commissioner Matt Old said. Old didn't know when it would go up for a vote since the project is still in its early stages. If the county does approve the PILOT program, Christensen estimates it would bring $1 million annually in payments to the area and local schools. Apex also estimates the project would support 100 to 200 local construction jobs and create three or four permanent positions in the area. The company recently submitted its application to The Ohio Power Siting Board, which will have the final say on the project's approval or denial. "The project is in the early stages of review," Christensen said. "Over the next 12 to 18 months, the project will be scrubbed and scrutinized by state and federal agencies such as the Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service." If everything goes according to its plan, Apex hopes the solar farm would start commercial operations in 2023.