Northeast Ohio to replace century-old coal plant with solar and storage

A century-old coal-fired power plant in Painesville, Ohio, will be replaced by a solar farm and battery storage system thanks to federal funding.

Dan Gearino reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

• Painesville, Ohio, will retire its coal plant and build a 35 MW solar farm with a 10 MW battery storage system.
• The $80 million project will transform a brownfield site, including a bike trail and wildflower meadow.
• The federal government will fund the project as part of a $4.3 billion initiative to support clean energy.

Key quote:

“With these resources, we will be able to expand our solar infrastructure, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.”

— Chris Ronayne, Cuyahota County Executive

Why this matters:

Replacing coal with solar reduces greenhouse gas emissions and enhances local air and water quality. The project illustrates how federal investment can accelerate the transition to renewable energy.