MOUNT GILEAD — Morrow County Chamber of Commerce members and county officials recently welcomed Open Road Renewables and Blossom Solar in their new location at 13 ½ South Main Street in Mount Gilead.

Blossom Solar is a proposed utility-scale solar project in Washington Township in Morrow County, with a small portion of the project in Tully Township in Marion County.

Open Road Vice President Patrick Buckley noted this will be a local partnership. Blossom Solar is working with landowners, farmers and community leaders to build a state-of-the-art solar facility.

Buckley added that the project will create up to 400 direct jobs during construction and employ up to seven full-time employees in its operation. They will pay $1.3 million annually as payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT). This revenue will be paid for schools, county and township governments, county hospital, EMS, Senior Citizens, and other governmental entities.

The next step going forward will be the public information meeting April 6 with Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB). OPSB will conduct the meeting with time for the public to give comments and ask questions.

Blossom Solar will submit their application to the OPSB after the public meeting. Buckley said there will be additional public notice and hearings following the acceptance of the application fee.

The construction and operation of Blossom Solar and other Solar utility projects are monitored by OPSB as they go forward.

Blossom Solar project will be the seventh solar project to be approved in Ohio for Open Road Renewables. Five Open Road projects have already been approved in Ohio and the sixth application has been submitted.

Morrow County Recorder Dixie Shinaberry said, “Patrick Buckley and Open Road Renewables has been a good company to work with.”

“I have been very encouraged by how important it is to have them be involved in Morrow County.” Shinaberry added. “They are partnering with local businesses and financially supporting events; such as sponsoring a day at the Morrow County Fair and taking Sames and Cook pastries to the Fire Department after their ribbon cutting.”

The Public Information Meeting for Blossom Solar project will be Wednesday April 6 at 6 p.m. in the Washington Township Hall, County Road 49 in Iberia. For more details about Blossom Solar and Open Road Renewables visit their website: www.blossomsolarproject.com

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By Alberta Stojkovic

For the Sentinel