Solar booms in industrial US midwest as energy crisis persists
Floating solar projects are expanding in the US Midwest, driven by rising energy demands and costs linked to datacenters, geopolitical tensions, and utility rate increases. In Lima, Ohio, a new floating solar installation on Twin Lake Reservoir will power a local water treatment plant and help stabilize water rates. The shift toward solar energy marks a broader regional transition from industrial manufacturing to clean energy production.
- ▪The floating solar project at Twin Lake Reservoir in Lima, Ohio, covers four acres and uses over 3,400 solar arrays to power a nearby water treatment plant.
- ▪D3Energy, a Florida-based company, has built more floating solar projects in the US than any other firm, including one three times larger than the Lima site located 90 miles northwest.
- ▪Midwestern states Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio rank among the top 12 in the US for solar capacity, despite the region's cloudy reputation.
- ▪Ohio receives more sunlight than Oregon and nearly as much as Alabama, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- ▪First Solar operates the largest solar R&D facility in the US in Perrysburg, Ohio, where it has invested $2.4 billion in advanced perovskite semiconductor solar technology.
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Engineers and construction workers work on a floating solar project at Twin Lake Reservoir in Lima, Ohio. Photograph: Stephen StarrView image in fullscreenEngineers and construction workers work on a floating solar project at Twin Lake Reservoir in Lima, Ohio. Photograph: Stephen StarrOhioSolar booms in industrial US midwest as energy crisis persistsElectricity has become one of the most important commodities in the region thanks to demand from datacenters, Iran war and rising utility charges Stephen Starr in Lima, OhioSat 2 May 2026 12.00 EDTLast modified on Sat 2 May 2026 12.02 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleFor decades, the only regular visitors to the Twin Lake Reservoir in Lima, Ohio, were fishers passing hot summer evenings trying to snag a largemouth bass.But today, it’s a…
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