Wednesday evening, the city got the "Clean Energy Innovator Award" from "Power A Clean Future Ohio" for the floating solar field they are putting on the Twin Lakes Reservoir, next to the water treatment plant.
LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Lima gets recognized for a future project that will be the largest one in the state.
Wednesday evening, the city got the "Clean Energy Innovator Award" from "Power A Clean Future Ohio" for the floating solar field they are putting on the Twin Lakes Reservoir, next to the water treatment plant. The nearly five-and-a-half-million-dollar floating solar field will generate around two megawatts of power. The city pays around 200 thousand dollars a year to power the water treatment plant, and this will save the city money in years to come. The solar field will be made up of over 3,400 solar panels over four acres of the reservoir, which will be the largest floating solar field in the state.
The solar field will be made up of over 3,400 solar panels over four acres of the reservoir, which will be the largest floating solar field in the state.
"If you would do this on land, you would have 14 or 15 acres of land used up on soil. On water, you are not taking up anybody's land. So, there is that benefit, but the benefit is that it's going to provide clean power to the water plant. We save money by going onto the grid; we will save around 40% of our energy cost with this project," says Mike Caprella, Utilities Director for the City of Lima.
The city's share of the cost of the project is around two million dollars; the rest is coming from grants and tax credits. The installation of the solar field is expected to begin and be completed in 2025.
The installation of the solar field is expected to begin and be completed in 2025.
December 11, 2024, Press Release from the City of Lima: Lima, Ohio - Wednesday, December 11, 2024, the City of Lima will be receiving the Power a Clean Future Ohio’s Clean Energy Innovator Award in recognition of the pending launch of the state's largest floating solar project. The event will be held from 5:30 PM to 8 PM at the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), located at 333 W Broad St., Columbus, Ohio.
In 2023, the City of Lima partnered with D3 Energy, LLC for the design and construction of floating solar panels that will be located on the surface of Twin Lakes Reservoir, next to the City of Lima’s Water Treatment Plant. The floating solar system will have a power output of 2 megawatts and will consist of 3,444 panels spanning over 4 acres of water surface. With an annual electricity budget of approximately $200 thousand to power the water treatment plant, this project will provide major cost savings to the city year after year.
“The floating solar project ties directly into our long-term sustainability and economic development goals,” states Mayor Sharetta Smith. “This project turns one of our largest energy consumers into a green-powered facility while conserving valuable land. These innovative initiatives help our community maintain a competitive edge as we look to provide affordable, quality water for our residents and businesses.”
Installation and project completion are currently scheduled for 2025.
The total project cost is $5.3 million, with grants from the Department of Energy covering $2.4 million and $889 thousand in direct pay tax credits through the Inflation Reduction Act’s Direct Pay program, resulting in a total cost to the city of just over $2 million.
