A new utility-scale solar farm just came online in Ohio, and it’s generating power with panels manufactured in-state.
Geronimo Power has switched on its 117-megawatt (MW) Dodson Creek Solar Project in Highland County, Ohio. The project feeds electricity into the PJM grid and uses Series 7 modules from First Solar, which are manufactured in Ohio.
That local supply chain angle matters. The project isn’t just producing electricity in-state – it’s also relying on in-state manufacturing to do it.
Dodson Creek is expected to generate about $49 million in direct economic benefits for the community. Over its first 20 years, it’s projected to deliver about $21 million in new tax revenue to Highland County, local townships, schools, and emergency services such as fire, EMS, and mental health programs.
The project also created jobs during construction, employing up to 125 workers at peak. It was built by Kiewit Power Constructors Co.
With Dodson Creek now online, Geronimo says its total operating portfolio in Ohio has reached 675 MW. Across that portfolio, the company estimates more than $240 million in economic benefits for local and state residents over the projects’ lifetimes.
Geronimo is also committing additional funding to the community, pledging $585,000 to local charities and organizations in Highland County through a dedicated fund tied to the project.
Electrek’s Take
Using First Solar modules made in Ohio keeps more of the value chain in-state, from factory jobs to project deployment. This is what a more self-contained US solar supply chain looks like in practice.
And while 117 MW isn’t massive, projects like this are how PJM adds capacity in the real world. Not one giant build, but a steady pipeline of mid-sized projects, ideally paired with more domestic manufacturing like this.
The next step is scale. If more solar farms consistently source US-made components, that’s when the manufacturing side really starts to accelerate alongside deployment.
Read more: First Solar locks in key perovskite tech with a new Oxford PV deal
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