Partly cloudy, blue skies and sunshine. Thursday was a nearly perfect day to showcase the Wyandot Solar Farm, the largest solar electric
-generating plant in Ohio.
"We're really flipping the switch on the future," said Gov. Ted Strickland, who was among the dignitaries who gathered for a formal dedication of the solar farm about three miles northwest of Upper Sandusky.
"Because we made a commitment to advanced energy in (the Legislature), the sun will not only power Ohio homes, it will power Ohio jobs," the governor said.
Strickland said Ohio was ranked first in the nation last year in the creation of green energy jobs.
-generating plant in Ohio."We're really flipping the switch on the future," said Gov. Ted Strickland, who was among the dignitaries who gathered for a formal dedication of the solar farm about three miles northwest of Upper Sandusky.
"Because we made a commitment to advanced energy in (the Legislature), the sun will not only power Ohio homes, it will power Ohio jobs," the governor said.
Strickland said Ohio was ranked first in the nation last year in the creation of green energy jobs.
The solar farm also showcases "solar panels
made in Perrysburg. Installed by Ohioans. And creating clean, renewable energy for Ohio businesses," Strickland said.
"Ohio is a leader in advanced energy," he said. "You can see that right here."
The 80-acre solar farm is adjacent to the Wyandot County airport, off Wyandot County 44 and Ohio 199. Public Service Enterprise Group, a New Jersey-based energy company, owns the project.
The farm will provide a "new harvest" of "clean, renewable energy which we will quietly produce and deliver to (American Electric Power) customers for decades to come," said Diana Drysdale, vice president of Public Service Enterprise Group Solar Source, a subsidiary of the owner.
The farm has more than 159,000 ground-mounted solar panels and can produce 12 megawatts of electricity, enough to power more than 9,000 residences. A megawatt is one million watts.
The solar farm is an example of "a clean, green financially robust future," for Ohio, Drysdale said.
"It's the dawn of a new era for the state," Strickland said. "We're at the forefront of an energy revolution."
"Following the light of the sun we have left the Old World," he said, quoting Christopher Columbus. "That's exactly what we're doing today," Strickland said.
Construction began in November 2009 and was completed in late spring. The solar farm began producing electricity in June. Electricity is not generated at night or when it is cloudy.
"The Wyandot Solar Farm points the way forward, and is both an environmental and economic win," said Ralph Izzo, Public Service Enterprise Group's chairman, chief executive officer and president.
"As a nation, we can all benefit from a future with more green energy that improves our energy security, helps in the fight against climate change and creates good jobs," he said.
"These projects are effectively driving down the cost of solar power," Drysdale said, "enabling it to become a meaningful part of the energy mix."
Juwi Solar, a German company with Colorado headquarters, handled engineering and construction, while about 60 employees of Vaughn Industries, Carey, did the installation. First Solar Inc., Perrysburg, built the solar panels.
Public Service Enterprise Group owns the project and leases the property from Wyandot County.
American Electric Power has a 20-year agreement with Wyandot Solar to purchase the electricity. American Electric Power supplies Ohio Power Co. and serves eight northwestern Ohio counties.
Many of the speakers Thursday said the project resulted from a cooperative effort by Eric Romich, executive director of the Wyandot County Office of Economic Development, and public and private entities including township, county and state governments, and companies involved in the development and construction.
School districts in Wyandot County are benefiting from the solar farm.
A solar panel, valued at $13,500, was donated to each school district in Wyandot County. Carey, Mohawk and Upper Sandusky schools will include a curriculum developed by Juwi Solar about the technology.
Students can be trained in solar panel maintenance and operation at area colleges and may find industry jobs.
Way to go Ohio!!!!
made in Perrysburg. Installed by Ohioans. And creating clean, renewable energy for Ohio businesses," Strickland said."Ohio is a leader in advanced energy," he said. "You can see that right here."
The 80-acre solar farm is adjacent to the Wyandot County airport, off Wyandot County 44 and Ohio 199. Public Service Enterprise Group, a New Jersey-based energy company, owns the project.
The farm will provide a "new harvest" of "clean, renewable energy which we will quietly produce and deliver to (American Electric Power) customers for decades to come," said Diana Drysdale, vice president of Public Service Enterprise Group Solar Source, a subsidiary of the owner.
The farm has more than 159,000 ground-mounted solar panels and can produce 12 megawatts of electricity, enough to power more than 9,000 residences. A megawatt is one million watts.
The solar farm is an example of "a clean, green financially robust future," for Ohio, Drysdale said.
"It's the dawn of a new era for the state," Strickland said. "We're at the forefront of an energy revolution."
"Following the light of the sun we have left the Old World," he said, quoting Christopher Columbus. "That's exactly what we're doing today," Strickland said.
Construction began in November 2009 and was completed in late spring. The solar farm began producing electricity in June. Electricity is not generated at night or when it is cloudy.
"The Wyandot Solar Farm points the way forward, and is both an environmental and economic win," said Ralph Izzo, Public Service Enterprise Group's chairman, chief executive officer and president.
"As a nation, we can all benefit from a future with more green energy that improves our energy security, helps in the fight against climate change and creates good jobs," he said.
"These projects are effectively driving down the cost of solar power," Drysdale said, "enabling it to become a meaningful part of the energy mix."
Juwi Solar, a German company with Colorado headquarters, handled engineering and construction, while about 60 employees of Vaughn Industries, Carey, did the installation. First Solar Inc., Perrysburg, built the solar panels.
Public Service Enterprise Group owns the project and leases the property from Wyandot County.
American Electric Power has a 20-year agreement with Wyandot Solar to purchase the electricity. American Electric Power supplies Ohio Power Co. and serves eight northwestern Ohio counties.
Many of the speakers Thursday said the project resulted from a cooperative effort by Eric Romich, executive director of the Wyandot County Office of Economic Development, and public and private entities including township, county and state governments, and companies involved in the development and construction.
School districts in Wyandot County are benefiting from the solar farm.
A solar panel, valued at $13,500, was donated to each school district in Wyandot County. Carey, Mohawk and Upper Sandusky schools will include a curriculum developed by Juwi Solar about the technology.
Students can be trained in solar panel maintenance and operation at area colleges and may find industry jobs.
Way to go Ohio!!!!
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