Geronimo Power has announced the commencement of operations at its Ross and Fayette Solar projects, located across Ross, Fayette, and Highland counties in Ohio. The Ross project has a capacity of 120 megawatts (MW), while the Fayette project adds another 47.5 MW. Together, these projects mark a significant step in Geronimo’s growing renewable energy portfolio in the state.
Over the next 20 years, the Ross and Fayette projects are expected to deliver a combined direct economic impact of approximately $73 million. This includes $29.5 million in new tax revenue, which will be allocated to local counties, school districts, emergency services, and contributions to Ohio’s Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Program. These financial benefits are aimed at supporting essential services and strengthening the infrastructure in the surrounding communities.
The Ross and Fayette projects join Geronimo’s previously announced Yellowbud Solar project in the region. Additionally, construction has recently begun on two more solar projects—Dodson Creek and Sycamore Creek. Once all five projects are operational, Geronimo will contribute over 675 MW of clean, renewable energy to Ohio’s power grid, reinforcing its long-term commitment to sustainable development and energy transition.
Blake Nixon, President and CEO of Geronimo Power, said in a statement, “The addition of Ross and Fayette to our Ohio operating portfolio brings our collective projected economic impact to more than $160 million across the Buckeye state. We’re proud of the footprint we’ve built here, and we want to extend a huge thank you to the state of Ohio and our project host communities for opening their doors to our business and investments.”
Duane Ross, a Fayette project landowner, stated, “I have lived in the area for more than 45 years and have found the nearby solar facilities to provide a welcome change to my community. The Ross and Fayette solar projects will provide essential revenue streams for residents in this area, and I hope to see more solar projects producing clean energy in the future.”
In October, Geronimo organized a community-focused event called the “Solar Harvest Festival” to celebrate the milestones of the Ross and Fayette projects. The event brought together landowners, community members, and project partners. Local businesses were the primary source of goods and services for the event, which included seasonal festivities and a guided tour of the Ross project site. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about the operations of a solar farm and its benefits to the environment and community.
As part of its broader community engagement efforts, Geronimo has pledged to donate $670,000 in charitable funding over the 20-year operational period of the Ross and Fayette projects. The Chillicothe-Ross Community Foundation and The Greenfield Foundation will manage these charitable funds. Representatives from both organizations attended the festival and were presented with commemorative checks symbolizing the upcoming donations.
In addition to the economic contributions, the Ross and Fayette Solar projects are expected to deliver substantial environmental benefits. Based on estimates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s greenhouse gas equivalency calculator, the projects will collectively offset approximately 4.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions over two decades. This reduction in greenhouse gases contributes to improving local air quality and advancing Ohio’s environmental sustainability goals.
