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George Harvey

National Grid Renewables has been very active building solar farms this fall. In early October, the utility announced in a press release that it had started operations at the Yellowbud Solar Farm in Ohio. Yellowbud will supply electricity to Amazon under a power purchase agreement.

According to the press release, Amazon’s Head of Energy, Water and Sustainability Nat Sahlstromis said, “Amazon is deeply committed to the state of Ohio, where we’re investing in and scaling new renewable energy projects like Yellowbud that will help power our operations with 100% renewable energy, while also bringing new jobs, economic benefits, and new sources of clean energy to local communities.” He added, “We’re eager to continue contributing to Ohio’s economic and environmental goals as part of Amazon’s commitment to become a more sustainable business.”

Care is being taken that Yellowbud is doing more for its community than just delivering electricity for Amazon. The project was developed intentionally to have a positive impact on Ohio generally, and especially the local community. It is expected to deliver jobs, income for land owners, and donations to charities, in addition to the $90 million in tax revenues that are expected.

After the jobs building the solar farm, there are both permanent jobs for direct employees and jobs for businesses that contract to work there. For example, a local landscape company, Optimal Outdoor Solutions, was given a contract for mowing on the project site.

Yellowbud is supporting the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters with charitable donations. It has also started the Yellowbud PILOT program with Ohio University Chillicothe. Roberta Milliken, Dean of Campus and Community Relations, commented on the broader effects of solar farms in the state, saying, “Our partnership with National Grid Renewables enables us to find ways to bring the conversation about renewable energies to our students and to also equip teachers with relevant and beneficial information about it.”

Blake Nixon, President of National Grid Renewables, said “It’s both rewarding and exciting to see the project reach this pivotal point. We are proud to work with customers like Amazon, who share our community-focused values and not only help to bring clean, solar resources onto the electric grid, but also support our efforts to maximize a project’s local economic and social benefits.”

Just six weeks after this announcement, another came along to describe two more solar arrays that were also being installed by National Grid Renewables in Ohio, the 120-MW Ross County Solar Project and the 47.5-MW Fayette solar farm in Fayette County. Like the Yellowbud solar farm, these two will be built by Kiewit Power Constructors. Also, they will use solar modules from First Solar, Inc., which has a solar manufacturing plant near Toledo.

The Ross County project is expected to produce $27 million in tax revenues for its area during the plant’s 25-year operational lifetime. The Fayette project is to provide $10.6 million in its county during the same period. Between them, they are expected to donate $670,000 to local charities. And together, they should reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 145,000 metric tons each year, according to an Environmental Protection Agency calculator.

We could draw some conclusions from the announcements. The solar projects are intended, and specifically designed, to be beneficial to the communities in which they are erected. Their benefits are to go beyond employment opportunities to include educational benefits and donations to charities, in addition to the environmental improvements they provide. They benefit their host areas tax revenues. In these, they are not alone, as many other solar and wind facilities do very much the same.

Both National Grid Renewables and Amazon can be assured that when they sign power purchase agreements for renewable installations, there are specific benefits involved that can be shown to local people. These benefits are long-term, including donations and other help for charities and educational institutions.

National Grid Renewables and Amazon are not alone in wanting to support local communities and economies. This approach may become part of a trend toward greater positive involvement by big businesses. We can hope.

Caption

Yellowbud Solar is an operating 274-MW solar photovoltaic (PV) farm in Williamsport, Ross County, Ohio. The farm brings in $90 million in tax revenues for the community and moves Amazon closer to its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.. (Courtesy of National Grid Renewables)