One US state now featuring new solar panels is known to many as the “birthplace of aviation” because it is where the Wright brothers came up with their idea for their airplane. This state’s citizens are proud of their home state for many other reasons, including it being the home base for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It has also lined up 1.4 million solar panels to join the pioneers for renewable energy, and this lineup has changed the desert in this way.
The US state that lined up 1.4 million solar panels
The Buckeye State has made its mark in the solar energy sector. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the state will be seeing even more growth in the sector and plans on adding 9,574 MW within five years to move from the No. 13 position in solar capacity to No. 8 in the United States. The state already boasts two major solar farms, including Union Solar Farm and Fox Squirrel Solar.
Union Solar Farm
The clean energy company, ACCIONA Energía, declared on December 26, 2024, that its Union Solar Farm had achieved Commercial Operation Date (COD). The solar farm is situated in Marysville, central Ohio, and feeds energy into the Ohio grid.
Fox Squirrel Solar
A partnership between EDF Renewables and the Canadian energy company, Enbridge, announced in 2025 that its solar farm, Fox Squirrel Solar, was also officially in production and feeds clean energy into the PJM grid. The solar farm is also situated in Ohio, in Madison County, west of Columbus, and is EDF Renewables’ biggest onshore clean energy project in North America.
This lineup is more powerful than ever seen
ACCIONA Energía’s Union Solar Farm has an impressive lineup of 760,000 solar panels across 22 square miles. The solar farm has a 325MW capacity, which is enough to meet the energy demands of almost 62,000 Ohioan households. This project was possible thanks to a long-term power purchase agreement between Union Solar Farm with Amazon.
Fox Squirrel Solar does not disappoint, as it boasts an even more impressive lineup that consists of three phases:
- Fox Squirrel 1 with a capacity of 150 MW
- Fox Squirrel 2 with a capacity of 250 MW
- Fox Squirrel 3 with a capacity of 177 MW
These three phases total up to a whopping 577 MW solar farm, which consists of a total of 1.4 million solar panels and 159 inverters. This solar farm produces enough clean power to support 118,000 Ohioan households. The full production capacity will also be transmitted to Amazon via power purchase agreements.
This significant lineup change has changed the desert in this way
These solar farms are all powerful, but they include benefits that go beyond their eco-friendly power capacity. Union Solar Farm had the following additional benefits:
- Boosted the local economy
- Created over 370 jobs during peak construction
- 80% of the labor comprised of local Ohioans
- 20 permanent jobs were maintained for operations
- A Social Impact Management program ensures annual revenues are reinvested in the local community
- The Social Impact Management program improves the living conditions of locals in the project communities
Fox Squirrel Farm also comprised additional benefits, with peak construction resulting in almost 650 jobs.
“Fox Squirrel has brought hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars to Madison County throughout the development and construction phase. As we transition into the operational phase, we are committed to continuing to be a responsible and reliable neighbor and strengthening our environmental and community stewardship.” – Kate O’Hair, senior vice president for onshore development at EDF Renewables North America
Ohio is at the forefront in the solar energy sector, with another 800 MW project planned. It shows the state’s commitment to renewable energies and to providing clean power to its citizens.