Clearview Solar
144 Megawatt (MW) solar project in Adams Township in Champaign County, Ohio
Project Overview
Clearview Solar
Advances in technology, production techniques, and construction have made solar competitive with traditional energy sources in Ohio and across the USA. Solar creates jobs, increases local tax revenue, and supports regional manufacturing and economic development. Solar projects have a minimal environmental impact, create no emissions, are low profile and easily screened from view, and make no noise. Clearview will be a good neighbor and valuable contributor to the local economy.
On October 21st, 2021, Clearview Solar received their Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need from the Ohio Power Siting Board.
Click the button below to access Clearview’s Application.
Project Summary
Clearview is a proposed 144 MW solar project located in Adams Township, Champaign County, OH. The project will consist of thousands of interconnected solar modules mounted on racking affixed to steel pilings driven into the ground without need for concrete foundations. On October 21st, 2021, Clearview Solar received their Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need from the Ohio Power Siting Board.
The Clearview Solar Project is being developed by Open Road Renewables. Open Road is a renewable energy company focused on development of utility-scale clean energy projects in the United States. Open Road’s highly experienced team is on a mission to make the promise of clean energy and economic security a reality for communities across the country.
Local Benefits
Solar allows landowners to diversify their income, plan for retirement, or even put their kids through college, while preserving the land for their future generations. Outside of the benefits to the participating landowners, there are benefits to the community from the increased tax revenue generated by the project. This revenue supports local tax jurisdictions where the Clearview is located including but not limited to the Graham Local School District, Adams Township, children services, emergency services, and Champaign County.
Minimal Impact
Modern solar farms consist of thousands of solar modules mounted on racking. The racking is mounted on steel posts driven into the soil without the use of poured concrete. Existing drainage is maintained and the entire site is planted with hardy, native grasses, even under the solar modules. Clearview is required to bond the project’s eventual decommissioning, allowing for adequate funding to return the site to its current agricultural condition.
Experience
The Clearview team developed the 200 MW Hillcrest Solar Project in Brown County, Ohio and is actively developing best-in-class solar projects across the state.
Project Location
Clearview will be a photovoltaic (“PV”) electric generation facility located north of Rosewood in Adams Township, Champaign County. The Project will have a maximum nameplate capacity of 144 MW. The Project will occupy about 1,000 acres of agricultural land, which can be returned to farming after 40 years. Construction of the facility is expected to begin in late 2021 and take about 12 months.
Construction Updates
General Update
Night time work is expected from from time-to-time during commissioning activities until the end of December 2024.
November 2024
Clearview Solar is nearing completion of major construction activities.
The Project is undergoing final commissioning activities.
Clearview Solar anticipates that the project will begin facility operations on or around December 23, 2024.
Commercial operation is anticipated to be around February 28, 2025.
October 2024
Deliveries
100% of modules delivered to date.
Civil
Mowing & seeding activities ongoing.
95% of the project site has been mowed to date.
Chemical spraying of approved herbicide commenced 10/15/24. All exterior locations have been sprayed with an approved herbicide application. Array spraying commenced on-site 10/23/24.
Structural
Piles is 100% complete.
Racking is 100% complete.
Electrical
Module installation is 100% complete.
DC Harness 98% complete.
DC Terminations 89% complete.
Feeder Install 96% complete.
DC Mod to Mod 100% complete.
DC String Wire 100% complete.
DC AWM 97% complete.
Substation
Substation commissioning 99% complete.
Construction for the substation 100% complete.
Commissioning
Self-perform commissioning activities are currently ongoing. Overall, commissioning is 75% complete.
August 2024
Deliveries
100% of modules delivered to date.
Civil
Drain Tile Reroutes 100% complete.
Mowing & seeding activities ongoing.
Structural
Pile installation ongoing. 99% of array piles driven.
97% of racking complete.
Electrical
Module installation is ongoing. 94% modules installed.
Substation
Substation commissioning 99% complete.
Construction for the substation 100% complete.
May 2024
Deliveries
Module deliveries ongoing.
Current schedule 35 trucks/week.56% of modules delivered to date.
Civil
1 of 2 planned HDD bores complete.
Mowing & seeding activities as part of site remediation efforts ongoing.
Structural
97% of array piles driven.
Finish racking and racking QC crews are active west of Snapptown Rd snaking northbound. Rough racking has begun in the middle portion of the project between Snapptown Rd and Indian Creek snaking southbound.
Electrical
Module installation is ongoing. 45% modules installed.
Substation
Substation EPC has mobilized. Substation activities include structural steel install. Main power transformer was delivered and installed.
April 2024
Deliveries
Module deliveries ongoing.
Civil
Work on Bores is on-going.
Perimeter fence installation complete, apart from gates.
Permanent seeding work is active.
Structural
Pile driving activities continue.
Racking work continues.
March 2024
Deliveries
- Module deliveries scheduled for March, 2024.
- Pile deliveries are nearing completion.
- Racking Deliveries are complete.
Civil
Work on Bores is on-going.
Perimeter fence installation complete, apart from gates.
Permanent seeding work is active.
Structural
Pile driving activities continue.
Racking work continues.
February 2024
Deliveries
- Inverter deliveries are on-going.
- Module deliveries scheduled for March, 2024.
- Pile deliveries are nearing completion.
- Racking deliveries are nearing completion.
- Straw mulch deliveries continues.
Civil
Work on Bores is on-going.
Perimeter fence installation continues.
Mulching work is active.
Structural
Pile driving activities continue.
Racking work continues.
January 2024
Deliveries
Module deliveries scheduled for March, 2024.
Inverter deliveries scheduled for February – March, 2024
Civil
Work on Bores is on-going.
Perimeter fence installation continues.
Mulching work is active.
Structural
Pile driving activities continue.
Racking work continues.
General Update
PCL will begin general construction activities from 7 am to 5 pm, Monday to Sunday starting on 1/6/2024. Pile driving activities will continue to not commence until 9 am daily.
December 2023
Deliveries
Pile deliveries ongoing throughout this period.
Racking and tracker deliveries are ongoing throughout this period.
Fiber, ground wire, and AC deliveries are complete.
DC cable deliveries ongoing.
Inverter deliveries scheduled for February 2024
Civil
Work on Bores is on-going.
Perimeter fence installation continues.
Structural
Pile driving activities continue.
Racking work continues.
November, 2023 Update
Survey
Surveyors have been on site since mobilization, and their work is ongoing.
Deliveries
Pile deliveries ongoing throughout this period.
Racking and tracker deliveries are ongoing throughout this period.
Fiber, ground wire, and AC deliveries are complete.
DC cable deliveries ongoing.
Drain tile material deliveries complete.
Inverter deliveries scheduled for February 2024
Civil
Interior project roads complete. SILT fence installation is complete.
Perimeter fence subcontractor mobilized during this period.
Structural
Pile driving activities continue.
Inverter pile foundations complete.
Torque tubes and racking continues.
Racking work continues.
October, 2023 Update
Survey
Surveyors have been on site since mobilization, and their work is ongoing.
Deliveries
Pile deliveries ongoing throughout this period.
Racking and tracker deliveries are ongoing throughout this period.
Civil
Interior project roads complete. SILT fence installation is complete.
Perimeter fence subcontractor mobilized during this period.
Structural
Pile driving activities continue.
Inverter pile foundations complete.
Torque tubes and racking continues.
Electrical
Grounding inverter skid complete.
September, 2023 Update
Survey
Surveyors on site, work is ongoing throughout the project footprint.
Deliveries
Pile deliveries ongoing.
Racking hardware deliveries is ongoing throughout this period.
Wire deliveries is ongoing and nearly complete.
Civil
Interior project roads complete.
1 of 2 planned HDD bores complete.
Ongoing installation of silt fence and stormwater BMPs.
Structural
Pile driving activities continue.
Inverter pile foundations continue.
Array pile foundations continue.
Electrical
Rough ins and grounding at inverter skids continue.
MV junction box installation work continues.
August, 2023 Update
Survey
Surveyors have been on site since mobilization and their work is ongoing throughout the project footprint.
Deliveries
Pile and racking hardware deliveries are ongoing.
Wire deliveries are on-going.
Civil
Construction of interior project roads and laydown areas is on-going.
Ongoing installation of silt fence and stormwater BMPs according to the SWP3.
Structural
Pile driving activities have commenced with inverter skid foundation piles.
Electrical
Rough ins and grounding at inverter skids on-going.
Other
OPSB and Ohio EPA were on site on August 7th,2023.
Overall reception was positive, and no major issues reported
Notice to Stakeholders
Impact pile driving will be starting at Clearview on July 15th, 2023 for approximately a 4 month period. Pile driving activities will be conducted during the hours of 9 am to 7 pm Monday to Sunday and may be required between 7 am to 9 am from time to time.
July, 2023 Update
PCL started with survey operations on June 14, 2023 and started Mobilization on June 19, 2023. Here are the things currently being worked on:
Site Survey of entrances, laydowns, SWPPP and project limits,
Install of Laydown yards, focused at gate B3
Install of project entrance B3
Start receiving of DC, AC, and Misc. electrical equipment deliveries
Install of access roads, east side of Indian Creek
Install of temporary SWPPP erosion control measures, east side of Indian Creek
June, 2023 Update
According to stipulation 11 the 7 day public notice was sent out on June 6th, 2023. For further detail please see uploaded Notification Letter.
Clearview Solar Construction is anticipated to commence on June 14th, 2023
Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQ )
What is a Solar Farm?
A solar farm is a large group of solar panels installed on the ground that operate together as a power plant. Solar panels, also known as photovoltaic panels, or “PV”, generate electricity from sunlight. Many solar panels are installed on the roofs of houses and other buildings, directly powering just those buildings. A solar farm, however, delivers large amounts of electricity to the existing high-voltage transmission system, which serves the entire region. The solar panels in many solar farms are fixed in a position tilted toward the sun (in North America, this is to the south). The low end of these panels is usually a few feet off the ground and the high end typically is about 10 feet off the ground. In some solar farms, the panels rotate slowly from east to west throughout the day, tracking the path of the sun.
How Long Do Solar Farms Last? How Is a Solar Farm Removed?
Solar farms operate for 30 to 40 years. At the end of that period, a landowner hosting one may want to reach a new arrangement under which the solar farm is “repowered” with newer technology, or the landowner may choose to have the solar farm removed. Solar farms require little or no concrete and so are relatively easy to remove at the end of the useful life of the equipment. (Anything below a depth of 3 feet usually is left in place because it will not impede other uses.) After a solar farm is removed, the land can be returned to its prior use, such as farming.
Is Solar Safe?
Solar modules have been in use for decades are a safe, mature technology. Solar has been deployed on homes, schools, hospitals, and farms around the country. The modules have a 25-year production guarantee and are expected to last 40 years.
What additional resources are available to learn about utility-scale solar energy impacts and trends?
Solar Development in Ohio
Additional Resources
- Clearview’s March 15th presentation to the Graham Local Schools Board
- Clearview’s Public Information Meeting presention
- Economic Benefits: Measuring the Economic Impacts of Utility-Scale Solar in Ohio and Summary
- Pollution Mitigation: Pollution Mitigation from Utility-Scale Solar Growth in Ohio
- Solar Trends: Solar Quarterly Benchmark (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) and Utility-Scale Solar 2019 (Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory)
Industry Information
Preliminary Maximum Extent Site Plan
Maximum capacity: 144 MW
Total fenced area: 1,061 acres (+/-)
Inverter Type: Central
Racking type: Single-Axis Tracker
Foundation: Driven Pilings
Maximum height: 15 feet
Ground Coverage Ratio: 31% (+/-)
Minimum Setbacks from Non-Participating Residences
Fence: >150 feet
Inverters: >500 feet
Minimum Setbacks from Property Lines and Road ROWs
Fence: >25 feet
Minimum Setbacks from Streams and Wetlands
Fence: >25 feet
Contact Information
We are here to answer your questions. Please reach out to us directly. We look forward to hearing from you.
E-mail : clearviewsolar@clearlightenergy.com