Orion Renewable Energy Group LLC (Orion) and its management team have been pioneers in renewable energy for nearly 30 years. Orion’s successful track record of completing renewable energy projects is the result of its decades of expertise in siting, development, power sales, finance, construction, operations, and working with top renewable energy engineers and consultants who are all noted experts in their fields. 

By the end of 2022, Orion has developed more than 7,000 megawatts of clean, renewable energy projects in the United States (of which 1,034 megawatts is in solar energy). That’s enough electricity to power more than 2 million average U.S. homes. 

For more information about the company visit www.OrionRenewables.com 

If the Idlewild application is approved in 2024, the $1.4 billion Idlewild Solar Power facility would bring more than $MMM million in new projected tax revenue over its XX-year lifespan. In its first year of the Idlewild Solar Power facility would bring to Jefferson County more than $6 million a year (and will increase over the subsequent years). 

Here are a few of the projected tax revenue line items earmarked for the annual county budget beginning in 2030):  

• $1.32 Million to General County Revenue
• $345,000 to Fire Department
• $1.53 Million to South Jefferson County Schools
• $542,000 to North Jefferson County Schools
• $348,000 to Public Library
• $77,000 to Solid Waste
• $18,000 to Recreation
• $42,000 to Capital Development
• $109,000 to Cumulative Bridge

YES! You can look right down the road at the Troy Solar Power facility operating in Spencer County.  The Troy solar facility has been operating for several years, and hasn’t registered any health, environmental, or safety problems since it started generating clean energy in 2020.  You can visit and see for yourself how the project operates quietly and harmoniously with the surrounding landscape.

Yes. Orion will be utilizing “Made in America” solar panels.  

YOU BET IT IS.  Solar power is clean energy that operates in harmony with surrounding air, water, and land with no negative health impacts. Solar power uses photovoltaic (PV) panels, which are very quiet with minimal moving parts. The Idlewild project will carefully site its solar facility to avoid potential impacts to wetlands and wildlife.  

When the project has reached the end of its operational life, the project facilities will be fully decommissioned, and the land returned to its original condition before the project was constructed in accordance with Jefferson County Solar Ordinance regulations.

Fires at utility scale solar facilities are exceedingly rare. That said, we understand from Orion that their project application will include an emergency response plan with the county. They will also coordinate with local emergency services early, prior to construction and throughout the life of the project to advise on emergency response procedures and ensure emergency responders are aware of the fire equipment located at the facility and be trained on how to use it in case of an emergency.

No. There are two common types of solar panels – silicon-based and thin film, which are required to pass the Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxic Leaching Characteristic Procedure (TCLP) test, meaning such panels are environmentally safe.

No! There is no threat of chemicals releasing into the environment or leaking into ground water during normal use, including extreme weather. Panels are manufactured to stay intact when damaged and have survived severe hail without any impact on groundwater. They are designed, manufactured, and installed to withstand wild weather and are ready for Indiana winters!  Just look to the Troy solar project as an example. 

Anything with an electrical current produces some level of radiation because electrical currents produce varying levels of electromagnetic fields. Even the earth produces background radiation levels that individuals experience 24-hours a day. Independent and government studies have shown that you experience far lower exposure to radiation at the perimeter of a solar farm than you do while using most daily household appliances including vacuum cleaners, cell phones, refrigerators, and microwaves.

Solar panels are made of materials that are meant to absorb sunlight, not reflect it, and they are made with an anti-glare coating.  Accordingly, solar panels only reflect a small amount of sunlight compared to most other everyday objects such as windows or water. 

In fact, glare is so nominal that you see utility scale solar projects located on and near major airports. Nevertheless, we are told that the project will conduct a glint and glare study that uses the Federal Aviation Administration’s glint and glare standards to ensure that no residences around or near the project will experience glare.  

Independent studies of installed large-scale solar energy projects throughout the U.S. consistently show that operating solar farms have no material impact on neighboring rural property values. 

Yes.  The Idlewild Solar Power facility will plant trees and shrubs to provide natural visual screening of the project from neighboring occupied properties and other necessary areas throughout all four seasons.  Professional maintenance will ensure the site is carefully maintained in accordance with Jefferson County and project operating requirements.

The Troy solar facility currently generates about $220,000 in annual property tax revenues for Spencer County. Once the Grandview solar facility is operational, Spencer County will gain an additional $330,000 in annual property tax revenue. The Troy, Grandview, and Sand Ridge solar facilities together will generate over $5 million in clean energy tax revenues to replace the lost coal plant funding. 

Yes. Orion will be utilizing “Made in America” solar panels.

The AEP Rockport Coal Power Plant provides a portion of its electricity to the nearby Cleveland Cliff’s Rockport Works, but the majority of its generated electricity goes outside of Spencer County and is distributed by Indiana-Michigan Power (IMP,) a subsidiary of American Electric Power (AEP.) IMP serves approximately 463,000 customers across northeastern and north-central Indiana.

Fires at utility-scale solar facilities are exceedingly rare. Regardless, Orion’s project application will include an emergency response plan with the county. Orion will also coordinate with local emergency services prior to construction and throughout the life of the project to advise on emergency response procedures and ensure emergency responders are aware of the fire equipment located at the facility and trained on how to use it in the event of an emergency.

No! There is no threat of chemicals being released into the environment or leaking into groundwater during normal use, including extreme weather. Panels are manufactured to stay intact when damaged and have survived severe hail without any impact on groundwater. They are designed, manufactured, and installed to withstand extreme weather, including Indiana winters! The Troy solar project is an excellent example.

Solar panels are made of materials meant to absorb sunlight, not reflect it, and they are given an anti-glare coating. Accordingly, solar panels reflect a smaller amount of sunlight than most everyday objects, such as windows or water. Their glare is so nominal that utility-scale solar projects can be located on and near major airports. Nevertheless, the project will conduct a glint and glare study using the Federal Aviation Administration’s glint and glare standards to ensure that no residences around or near the project will experience glare.

Independent studies of installed large-scale solar energy projects throughout the US consistently show no material impact on rural property values from nearby solar farms.