By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The sun may be hiding most days recently, but Bowling Green’s new solar field is producing power.
The gray days of January aren’t allowing full power generation yet, but on sunny days, the site is producing close to 14 megawatts of power, according to Bowling Green Utilities Director Brian O’Connell.
“We should see better production as we get into spring and summer,” O’Connell said during a City Council meeting Tuesday evening. “But we are getting power from it right now.”
According to Mayor Dick Edwards, 40 percent of the city’s energy now comes from renewable sources. An estimated 2,900 homes in the city will be powered by sunlight.
The new solar field, which sits on 165 acres northeast of the city near the corner of Carter and Newton roads, has more than 85,000 solar panels, O’Connell said. The panels rotate with the sun during the day to get maximum power. The solar field is expected generate 20 megawatts, with Bowling Green getting 13.74 megawatts of the power for its customers.
The solar field is the largest solar power generation site in Ohio.
American Municipal Power Inc. had planned to own and operate the solar sites in multiple communities. However, AMP was not eligible for federal investment tax credit. So AMP entered into an agreement with NextEra, a third party solar developer.
NextEra, which qualifies for the tax credits, is one of the largest generators of solar energy in the U.S. with more than 700 megawatts of solar generation.
Since the project now qualifies for federal tax credit, it will cost the city less in the long run. With the original solar plan, it was estimated the city would see a 1.1 percent increase in its power supply costs. That increase was erased with the new proposal.
Doug Isaacson is sworn in as deputy fire chief by BG Mayor Dick Edwards.
Also at Tuesday’s council meeting, Doug Isaacson was sworn in as the city’s deputy fire chief. Isaacson has more than 35 years with the fire division.
It was also announced that more meetings are planned for those wanting to participate in the Community Action Plan. A joint meeting of city council and the city planning commission will be held Jan. 31, at 6 p.m., in the Wood County District Public Library. Then an open house on the plan will be held Feb. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m., in the Wood County Courthouse Complex.
Wendy Chambers, of the Bowling Green Convention and Visitors Bureau, updated council on plans for the annual Winterfest, which is being promoted as a “Chillabration” this year. “The coolest event of the year,” Chambers said.
The Feb. 10 to 12 celebration of winter will include several events at City Park, at the BGSU Ice Arena, and downtown.
In other business, council gave first readings to resolutions:
- Approving revisions to the Parks and Recreation Department section of the Comprehensive Plan for the city.
- Authoring an agreement between the city and the Wood County Regional Airport Authority. The city shares in the costs of operating the airport. This year the subsidy is set at $26,347.
- Amending the city’s zoning district map at 510 and 516 E. Wooster St. from B-2 general commercial to B-5 transitional central business district zoning.
- Authorizing the mayor to file an annual application and execute a contract for Community Development Block Grant funds.
- Authorizing the mayor to file a four-year capital and operating plan with the Ohio Department of Transportation for grants through the U.S. Department of Transportation.
