WTOV9 | Chloë Mesogitis November 16
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio — More economic development is coming to Jefferson County, this time in the form of solar energy.
CleanCapital will be planting roots on 170 acres of brownfield land to create a solar energy field right off County Road 26.
Director of Project Management for CleanCapital Lori Cuervo says this will have multiple benefits for the county.
“Well the goal is to build a solar project 43 megawatts in size, using property that was a former reclaimed strip mine that is not beneficially used for any other reason,” Cuervo said. “Putting people to work in the county. “
Cuervo says they are hoping to start site work in early 2024, which will generate about 200 jobs. Eighty percent of those jobs must be filled by Ohioans.
Once completed, this will create 15-20 full-time positions.
But Cuervo says this brings back reliable energy.
“It provides power back into the utility grid that has been dwindling a little bit with the closing of some of the powerplants around here,” she said. “So hopefully it helps with grid stability.”
The property pays about $20,000 a year in property taxes but Jefferson County commissioners came to an agreement with the company to place CleanCapital in the pilot program, pay in lieu of taxes, which will result in annual revenue of around $300,000.
This would benefit several entities across the county.
— $200,000 will go toward Indian Creek School District.
— $45,000 for Jefferson County.
— $32,000 for the City of Steubenville.
— $10,000 for Jefferson County JVS.
— $6,000 for SVRTA.
— $4,000 for the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County.
— $4,000 for Eastern Gateway Community College.
“That’s something that’s going to happen every year,” Commissioner Eric Timmons said.
And while this is a step in the right direction, many are still asking the question of when will more business come to Jefferson County?
“Use tools that we have, like this pilot program,” Timmons said. “Be good partners and work with these businesses that want to develop here.”
CleanCapital say they expect this project to be completed in 2025.
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