COLUMBUS, OH: American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP), the City of Bowling Green and NextEra Energy Resources celebrated the commercial operation of the Bowling Green Solar Facility with a dedication ceremony on April 27, 2017.
“We appreciate all who helped make this facility a reality,” said AMP Executive Vice President of Power Supply and Generation Operations Pamala Sullivan. “Solar is a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and asset-based alternative to wholesale energy and capacity markets.”
The event was attended by elected and local city and county officials, AMP member officials, and AMP and NextEra Energy Resources. Ohio Sen. Randy Gardner presented a letter of citation honoring AMP, NextEra Energy Resources and participating municipal electric communities. Ann Longsworth, northwest Ohio regional representative for U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and Andrew Lorenz, district director for Congressman Bob Latta were also in attendance.
“Here in Bowling Green we are very proud of our diverse and renewable power supply portfolio, and this solar site is just one more way we’re trying to do the right thing,” said Brian O’Connell, director of utilities with the City of Bowling Green and member of the AMP Board of Trustees.
“We are pleased to be working with AMP to bring the benefits of renewable energy to its customers," said Matt Handel, vice president of development for NextEra Energy Resources. “This 20 megawatt solar project will generate cost-effective, clean, solar energy for years to come.”
The 20 MW facility, the largest solar installation in the state of Ohio, went into commercial operation in January 2017.
The site is made up of more than 85,000 modules and uses a tracker system that rotates the solar panels to help in maximizing production.
A substation was also built on the site that steps the voltage up from 34.5 kV to 69 kV to be transmitted on a newly built 1.75 mile, 69 kV line that ties back into the City of Bowling Green’s electric system.
There are 22 participating AMP members receiving energy from the project. The Bowling Green Solar Facility is part of a larger AMP Solar Phase II project. In the spring of 2016, AMP executed a solar power purchase agreement with DG AMP Solar, a wholly owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, for the development, construction and operation of up to 80 MW or more of new solar electric generation facilities. Solar Phase II sites in Ohio and Virginia are also in commercial operation, with additional sites under development in Ohio, Michigan and Delaware.
View official news release
Read more about the project on the Solar Power page