AEP and Turning Point Solar to Build One of the Largest Solar Plants East of the Mississippi

AEP Ohio has announced it will participate with Turning Point Solar LLC to develop one of the largest solar generating facilities east of the Mississippi River.  The 49.9-megawatt (MW) commercial solar facility will be built on approximately 750 acres of reclaimed land once mined for coal in Noble County, 20 miles southeast of Zanesville.  Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2012 and finish in 2015.

"When we originally announced this project last year, we were proud to play an instrumental role in helping bring new jobs to Ohio while advancing renewable energy technologies in the Midwest," says Joe Hamrock, president and COO of AEP Ohio.  “Taking the lead on these types of projects not only allows AEP Ohio to meet the state's renewable energy requirements, it also benefits Ohio through new development, job creation and economic growth."

The project is expected to create more than 600 direct jobs. 

Turning Point Solar is a joint venture of Agile Energy Inc. of San Francisco and New Harvest Ventures, an alternative energy development company headquartered in Gahanna. 

For more information, see the release from AEP Ohio.