South Central Power introduces solar array panels to public

LANCASTER - Dustin Poling said he signed onto South Central Power's new solar array program because he's an environmentally-conscious consumer.

"I have a family and we live here in town," he said. "Honestly, just thinking about the long-term future for my kids. I think it's a great thing for Lancaster to see this initiative come here. I'd like to see more environmentally-conscious things come to the community. If I'm not signing up, who am I to expect more of these things to come around?"

The 650-kilowatt solar array is near the corner of Anchor Way and Mill Park Drive in the Rock Mill Corporate Park. SCP hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday to officially introduce the program to the public. 

The array features 1,900 solar panels on a 4-acre site. That means SCP customers like Poling have access to renewable energy through the company's OurSolar community solar energy program.

Through OurSolar, SCP customers can subscribe to have some of their electrical power provided from the solar panels. The program does not provide 100 percent of their power.

Those signing onto the OurSolar program do not need any further equipment at their residence and must sign a five-year agreement.

The company said that while most of SCP's power will still come from coal-fired generation, OurSolar gives customers the opportunity to enhance their service with locally-produced renewable energy.

SCP Communications Manager Mark Owen said subscribing to OurSolar will not result in cheaper electric bills, however. He said it bills could be 50 cents higher per month.

"But it is a great way to underwrite the cost of greener electricity," Owen said. "At least in Ohio, solar is not as cost-effective to produce as other forms of energy such as coal. But for people who want to participate in solar power, doing it at a community level like this is less expensive than installing your own panels on your home.

"Because the up-front cost of that is tremendous - buying the equipment, having it installed. The up-front cost of this is zero. To consumers who want to participate in solar power, this is a very cost-effective way to do it."

Owen said the panels will grab power from the sun. In simple terms, the power will then go into onsite boxes and go underground to the SCP power grid to those customers who have signed up for it. 

"Once it hits the grid, that energy is just as useful as any other source," Owen said. "It fluctuates, obviously, depending on the weather, depending on the time of day. We don't get solar power produced in the middle of the night, for example. But during daylight hours, even on a cloudy day like this (Tuesday), we are getting some solar power that's produced."

He called it the largest cooperative-owned solar array in the state and said that SCP has a waiting list of customers wanting to subscribe.

SCP is running the program with Buckeye Power, Inc. That company is SCP's generation and transmission provider. The Lancaster Area Community Improvement Corporation is also involved in the project.

Along with the solar array, the site will also house the East Central Ohio Beekeepers Association pollinator garden and wildflowers to attract butterflies and bees. SCP will also fund a beekeeper scholarship to ECOBA's Earl James Bee School.

Owen said SCP has no immediate plans to build another array but would look at the issue based on customer demands.

Visit www.southcentralpower.com/electrical-services/renewable-resources/oursolar/ for more information about the solar energy program.

SCP customers who want to sign up for the solar energy program can do so at www.southcentralpower.com/solarRSVP.

jbarron@gannett.com

740-681-4340

Twitter: @JeffDBarron