OH pilot solar project remains intact despite federal cuts

By Terri Dee

As federal dollars dry up for current and future environmental projects nationwide, one Ohio group remains dedicated to keeping solar energy at the forefront.

The nonprofit Columbus Region Green Fund is a clean energy lender, or 'green bank,' dedicated to deploying equitable clean energy across the Central Ohio region. Their mission is to ensure every Columbus resident benefits from the transition to clean energy through the Impact Solar-PACT Residential Pilot Program.

Zachary McGuire, founder and executive director of the fund, explained its mission.

"The pilot consists of just under 10 homeowners in the near east side of Columbus," McGuire pointed out. "We really wanted to be able to leverage the model to reduce really the everyday cost of living with the solar energy through reducing electricity bills."

The Impact Solar program will deploy 40-plus megawatts of low-cost solar across Central Ohio for low to moderate-income residents. Participants will enter into a six-year power purchase agreement and pay 20% lower rates than traditional energy sources. In year seven, homeowners will assume ownership of the solar asset at zero cost and pay nothing for the power generated by the system for the remainder of its lifespan.

Solar power was not well-known among the community’s residents chosen for the pilot project. McGuire acknowledged some skepticism surfaced, an expected response to a new technology program entailing considerable changes to their homes. He emphasized conversations to boost awareness about solar panel installation beyond typical alterations such as windows or doors helped put homeowners at ease.

"Your house is your primary point of wealth," McGuire noted. "There's some general hesitation toward, 'Do I want something installed on my house that you may not be familiar with?' It's different from a roof. It's different from windows, doors."

McGuire added one of the great things about solar power is the panels can extend the life of a roof by counteracting the effects of rain and hail. The Office of the Consumers’ Counsel of Ohio said as of 2024, the state has installed a solar capacity of 3,600 megawatts, enough power for nearly 464,000 homes.