The biggest solar farm in Ohio and second largest east of the Mississippi is in Wyandot County.
Last year, the farmland produced corn and soybeans, now it's harvesting sunlight. According to PSEG Solar Source, owner of the solar farm, it equates to clean, renewable power for more than 9,000 homes.
The 84-acre solar farm, covered with 1/4 inch thick ground mounted panels, produces 12-megawatts of DC power.
"It is a clean renewable power and energy and we do not generate any pollutants we do not generate any green house gases and our fuel is free and plentiful," said Site Representative Curt Judy.
During construction, PSEG used 100 high-skilled workers from around Wyandot County. Plus, the 160,000 panels used to make this solar array were manufactured locally.
"The thin-film technology has been perfected by First Solar in Perrysburg, Ohio and they have determined ways to manufacture this product in large scale to make this technology affordable," said Judy.
Past generations of solar panels had issues with Ohio's intermittent sunlight, but Judy said, "With a southern exposure, these portable panels are much more efficient." Judy said that's "Because, the thin-film technology is also very well suited at capturing lower radiance or low sunlight which we tend to see in the winter months."
Ohio's new utility law requires by 2025 at least 12.5 percent of all power sold in the state must be generated with renewable technologies.
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