Gov. Ted Strickland, D-Ohio, has announced agreements to create Turning Point Solar, a 49.9 MW solar array to be built on strip-mined land adjacent to The Wilds nature conservancy in Ohio. American Electric Power signed a memorandum of understanding with project developers New Harvest Ventures and Agile Energy to enter into a 20-year purchase agreement for the facility's power.
Pending approval of incentives to be provided by state and local governments, two Spain-based solar power component manufacturers, Prius Energy SL and Isofoton, have agreed to open new manufacturing facilities in Ohio to help construct the 239,400-panel solar array. Prius produces tracking equipment and racks for panels, and Isofoton manufacturers 275 W solar panels.
Last week, Strickland signed an executive order eliminating Ohio's tangible personal property tax and real property tax for advanced and renewable energy project facilities.
Turning Point Solar will use a tract of at least 500 acres of reclaimed land mined by the Central Ohio Coal Co. between 1969 and 1991.The land was infamously strip-mined by the Big Muskie, then the world's largest dragline, which removed more than 608,000,000 cubic yards of overburden.
SOURCE: Office Of Ohio Governor Ted Strickland
