Buckeye Reporter

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $71 million in investments 18 clean energy project across the country, including two projects in Ohio. 

The funding for the grants announced came from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Two of the grants will contribute to the increased levels of solar manufacturing and generation in Ohio. The grants, tolling $16.6 million, were awarded to Appalachian Renewable Power in Stewart and First Solar in Perrysburg.

First Solar, which received $15 million of the grant funds, has the "largest solar manufacturing footprint in the western hemisphere," according to company's website.

There has been backlash against the growth of wind and solar projects in Ohio. In June of 2023, the Butler County Board of Commissioners adopted a measure that designates a “restricted area” that prohibits “the construction of an economically significant wind farm, a large wind farm, and/or a large solar facility.” The measure passed unanimously, and affected all unincorporated areas within twelve townships.

More recently, Shelby County Commissioners held a public hearing on May 16 to consider the adoption of Utility-Scale Wind/Solar Exclusion Zones. The proposed zones are authorized under a provision in Ohio Senate Bill 52 that allows counties to exclude large scale solar projects.