SUBSCRIBE
PROFILE

RWE begins construction of its second solar farm in Ohio

Construction has started on the Union Ridge Solar Farm, with a 98 MWac capacity, in Licking County, Ohio. The project is creating hundreds of local jobs and strengthening the skilled workforce in the renewable energy sector.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

START NOW — 4.90$/month

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

SUBSCRIBE — 99$/year

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

Sign up for free to unlock this article

RWE, the third largest renewable energy producer in the United States, has begun construction of its second solar farm in the state of Ohio. The Union Ridge project, with a capacity of 98 megawatts alternating current (MWac), is located in Licking County, in central Ohio. The company acquired the project from Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) in autumn 2024.

Development of the Union Ridge Solar Farm represents a $68mn investment in the local economy of Licking County. The project is expected to generate approximately 280 direct jobs during the construction phase, including wages and benefits, as well as increased local procurement and tax contributions. These economic effects are also expected to boost surrounding services and local businesses.

Collaboration with local unions

RWE has partnered with MasTec Renewables for the project’s construction, with a specific objective of leveraging Ohio’s unionised craft workforce. The two companies are working with several local unions, including the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). This partnership enables the hiring of skilled workers for the construction and installation of the utility-scale solar farm.

Economic impact and support for workforce training

Kevin Kroll, Chief Operating Officer at RWE Clean Energy, stated: “Our Union Ridge project is a real example of how we collaborate with leading American companies to generate jobs and boost local economies with our homegrown energy.” According to him, the project also supports Ohio’s skilled workforce by developing long-term job opportunities in the renewable energy industry.

Mike Flynn, Senior Vice President of Operations at MasTec Renewables, added: “Our partnership with RWE for the Union Ridge project shows MasTec’s commitment to driving local economic growth and strengthening workforce development. This project creates hundreds of roles, from skilled labourers to utility electricians and solar panel assemblers.”

Total capacity and future outlook

The Union Ridge Solar Farm will add to the 400 MW of wind and solar assets already owned and operated by RWE in Ohio. Once completed, it will bring RWE’s total operating capacity in the state to nearly 500 MW—enough to power more than 118,000 average US homes annually.

  • Popular on energynews.pro
Hitachi injects $1bn into transformer manufacturing to strengthen US grid interconnection
Baker Hughes to deliver geothermal equipment to Fervo Energy for 300 MW capacity
Brazil requests full membership in the International Energy Agency
Shell halts its biofuels plant in Rotterdam amid strategic trade-off
China redefines electric vehicle strategy around technological innovation
AGCO signs 10-year deal with BRUC for solar supply in Europe
US-based AGCO has signed a ten-year virtual power purchase agreement with BRUC, covering a 100 MW solar project in Spain, to secure part of its European energy consumption.
Innergex secures 85 MW in France with six agrivoltaic solar projects
Canadian developer Innergex has won all six projects of the Grenier des Essences portfolio for a total of 85 MW, strengthening its position in France’s ground-mounted solar sector.
Canadian Solar launches low-carbon modules reaching 285 kg CO₂eq/kW
Canadian Solar unveils its new low-carbon solar modules integrating heterojunction cells and thinner wafers, achieving up to 24.4% efficiency and a peak power output of 660 Wp.
Elmya and Atlantica partner to develop 4 GW of energy projects in the United States
Elmya Energy and Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure have created a joint venture targeting 4 GW of renewable energy projects in the United States, focused on the ERCOT and WECC markets.
Louth Callan completes deployment of 28 MW solar park in Maine
Louth Callan has completed the Mousam River solar project in Sanford, marking a key milestone in the deployment of utility-scale energy infrastructure across the United States.
Georgia Power receives approval for 1,068 MW of new solar projects in Georgia
The state regulator has approved five new solar power purchase agreements to support growing demand under the CARES programme, targeting industrial and commercial clients.
Ecoener commissions Guatemala’s largest solar plant with 74.7 MWp
With the commissioning of the El Carrizo plant, Ecoener surpasses 500 MW in installed capacity and becomes the most active Spanish investor in Guatemala’s energy sector.
Aspen Power acquires two community solar projects in New Jersey
Aspen Power has finalised the acquisition of two community solar projects totalling over 1 MWdc in New Jersey, developed by Ecogy Energy, with construction expected to begin shortly.
Tenergie begins construction of 5.14 MWp solar plant in Cabrières d’Avignon
French developer Tenergie has started work on a ground-mounted solar plant at a former quarry, with expected annual output of 7.6 GWh from 2026.
Octopus Energy injects 600 MW into solar and storage in Spain
Octopus Energy strengthens its presence in Spain with three new energy projects totalling 600 MW, powering 2.3 million households and accelerating the expansion of its European renewables portfolio.
VSB Italy launches 6.2 MW solar project on agricultural land in Umbria
VSB Italy has obtained authorisation to build a 6.2 MW agrivoltaic plant in Città della Pieve, combining solar power generation and agricultural cultivation on 10.6 hectares.
Ameren Missouri invests in 250 MW solar plant near Callaway nuclear site
Ameren Missouri announces a 250 MW solar project to power 44,000 homes, reducing delays and costs through strategic development on company-owned land.
France: Verso Energy commissions a 580 kWc agrivoltaic plant in Outarville
Verso Energy has inaugurated an experimental solar power plant in Outarville, testing the integration of photovoltaic panels across three hectares of large-scale crops with a 90% self-consumption rate.
R.Power sells 440MW solar portfolio in Poland amid uncertainties
Independent power producer R.Power is selling a 440MW ready-to-build photovoltaic portfolio in Poland, as political uncertainties drive a wave of divestments in the national renewable energy market.
Grenergy sells 10% of Chilean megaproject to CVC DIF for $475mn
Grenergy has finalised the sale of the fourth phase of its hybrid solar-storage project in Chile to CVC DIF, valued at up to $475mn, while retaining operation and maintenance for five years.
Q ENERGY closes financing for seven hybrid solar plants in Spain
Q ENERGY secures financing for 252 MW of solar projects in Spain, marking its first independent power producer operation on the Iberian Peninsula.
Scatec signs 15-year power purchase agreement for a solar plant in Colombia
Norwegian group Scatec has signed a power sales agreement with BTG Pactual for its first solar project in Colombia, representing an estimated $110mn investment.
Global solar capacity jumps to 380 GW in first half of 2025
New solar installations rose 64% year-on-year, driven by China, which accounted for more than two-thirds of global deployed capacity.
Virya Energy launches 7,001 m² solar plant in Toulouse with Tisséo
Virya Energy invests EUR2mn in a photovoltaic plant at the Oncopole park-and-ride in Toulouse, marking a 30-year partnership with Tisséo to strengthen the city’s energy self-consumption.
ACWA Power commits to study 2,500 MW of energy projects in Syria
ACWA Power has signed an agreement with the Syrian Ministry of Energy to assess up to 2,500 MW of solar, wind and storage projects, along with a technical audit of the national grid and existing infrastructure.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.