A century-old coal-fired power plant in Painesville, Ohio, will be replaced by a solar farm and battery storage system thanks to federal funding.
Dan Gearino reports for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- Painesville, Ohio, will retire its coal plant and build a 35 MW solar farm with a 10 MW battery storage system.
- The $80 million project will transform a brownfield site, including a bike trail and wildflower meadow.
- The federal government will fund the project as part of a $4.3 billion initiative to support clean energy.
Key quote:
“With these resources, we will be able to expand our solar infrastructure, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.”
— Chris Ronayne, Cuyahota County Executive
Why this matters:
Replacing coal with solar reduces greenhouse gas emissions and enhances local air and water quality. The project illustrates how federal investment can accelerate the transition to renewable energy.
