(PHOTO BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
FUTURE SOLAR SITE … The 35 acres of land proposed to be the new home of a solar energy field for Pioneer, Ohio.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
At a recent Pioneer Village Council meeting, Mayor Ed Kidston shared updates on the long anticipated solar field project, noting major strides in both financing and environmental approval.
The project, which has been in planning for several years, is now moving forward following key developments from federal partners and legislative urgency surrounding loan incentives.
According to Kidston, the village has obtained the necessary environmental approvals and secured multiple funding sources for the utility scale solar installation.
A $10.6 million loan through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was officially announced in December 2024, backed by USDA’s Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program.
The PACE (Powering Affordable Clean Energy) initiative supports Pioneer’s solar development as well through loan forgiveness. The PACE program can offer forgiveness up to 60% of the total cost.
Congresswomen Marcy Kaptur, who represents Northwest Ohio, advocated for the effort, praising the investment as a commitment to “resilient and affordable energy” as a means to support rural communities like Pioneer.
A recent release from Kaptur’s office states that Pioneer’s solar field is expected to save the community around $800,000 annually in energy expenses, before debt services, generating around 4.9 megawatts of clean electricity.
Currently, the Pioneer community serves 952 households in its limits. The total cost of the project is estimated to weigh-in around $20 million, according to Kaptur’s original official press release in December 2024.
With hopes it produces at least 25% of the village’s electrical needs. Kidston remains certain that the cost will not be nearly as high, but remains steadfast in budgeting for the future.
The USDA’s environmental assessment, finalized in September 2024, determined the project would have no significant impact on the surrounding area.
The area for construction is set for village owned property west of County Road 15, and directly adjacent to the village’s wastewater treatment facility.
This area was chosen due to its close proximity to municipal infrastructure, and is not considered prime farmland, or a food plain.
Due to the land being village property since the early 1970s, village officials deemed it reasonable to use the space for economic potential.
The solar field, planned for approximately 35 acres just west of County Road 15, will be a ground-mounted photovoltaic array capable of generating up to almost five megawatts of power. With this loan, approximately 10,000 panels will be installed.
The system is expected to connect directly to the village’s existing electric distribution network, providing energy locally while reducing dependency on traditional fossil fuel-based grids.
“The avoidance of steeply rising costs for transmission and capacity charges will place our village at a competitive position for decades to come,” the Mayor states. “It will also make Pioneer less dependent on a grid which is becoming overloaded and less reliable with each new year.”
Kidston emphasized that the village is operating under a strict timeline to remain eligible for substantial tax credits and loan forgiveness options.
A bill introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives may alter eligibility requirements in the near future, and in order to be grandfathered into current incentives, Pioneer must begin the construction bid process immediately. The timeline is crucial to the continuation of the village’s two-year implementation plan.
Due to the House of Representatives passing “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” most commercial and residential solar tax credits are being ended prematurely.
Projects must start by the end of 2025 to receive full credit. Delays pushing the project further in the future runs the risk of reducing or eliminating proposed tax credits, depending on the final legislation.
Despite uncertainties that may arise during the project, Kidston reassured residents that even under worst-case projections, the solar field would generate positive returns.
The initiative could significantly offset rising energy costs, potentially increasing the village’s longstanding annual utility rebate, which usually sits at around $200.
An estimated $325, at the low end, to upwards of $900 is possible with the switch of electricity manufacturing.
Additional revenue could also stem from local businesses choosing to purchase electricity from the solar grid, further boosting economic benefits for the community.
The combination of federal backing, environmental clearance, and economic foresight marks a pivotal moment in Pioneer’s translation toward renewable energy.
As construction preparations begin, village officials remain optimistic that this investment will yield long-term rewards for residents and future generations alike.