PVTIME – The 2GW Conesville coal-fired power plant in Coshocton County, Ohio, ceased operations in 2020, having supplied electricity to areas east of Columbus for 62 years. A local initiative now aims to breathe new life into the region’s energy landscape by focusing on renewable energy sources.
Ohio native Robert Black, a financial advisor and the president of the recently established Ohio Sunshine, intends to create energy jobs in Coshocton, this time in the renewable energy sector. The company intends to build a silicon solar module factory with an annual production capacity equivalent to that of the closed coal plant, located just five miles away. Black noted that the company plans to upskill blue-collar workers to become green-collar professionals, while also addressing an energy challenge for the United States.
He revealed that Ohio Sunshine will initially hire 83 local employees for the first phase of the 2GW facility, which is set to begin production in Q1 2027. The company has selected a site near Paper Mill Road in Coshocton, with plans to begin construction in early 2026. It has also signed an agreement to source all new equipment from Ecoprogetti Srl, an Italian photovoltaic manufacturing equipment supplier.
Laura Sartore, Ecoprogetti’s Chief Executive Officer, emphasised the strategic importance of the US market. She noted that the American market will be one of the most strategically significant for Ecoprogetti over the next five years, adding that the company is proud to bring advanced European technology to Ohio Sunshine and is considering local equipment manufacturing. This complements the firm’s service operations, which have been ongoing in the US for over a decade, enabling it to enhance its local presence and deliver superior service to clients.
As the construction plans take shape, Black is finalising supply chain contracts. He stated that the company intends to purchase TOPCon cells from Talon PV, a company that is building a manufacturing facility in Texas. Should the market shift towards other technologies, Black added that he has also discussed heterojunction designs with other brands looking to establish production in the US. However, a core objective for Ohio Sunshine is to reduce reliance on China as much as possible.
Black explained that the only way to meet domestic demand is to invest in new production capacity. He noted that such facilities are scarce today, but based on the company’s current bill of materials, it is possible to produce solar modules domestically, independently of China.
Scan the QR code to follow PVTIME official account on Wechat for latest news on PV+ES
