Madison County, Ohio, is to be home to the United States’ largest agrivoltaic farm—a project that combines farming and clean power on record-breaking lines.
Agrivoltaics, agro-photovoltaics, agrisolar, or dual-use solar, combine energy generation with farming. Instead of replacing agriculture, this approach enables crops to be grown and livestock grazed beneath solar panels such that land remains multi-functional.
The Oak Run Solar Project
The project is centered on the Oak Run Solar Project, developed by Savion, a Kansas City–based renewable energy company. In its subsidiary firm Oak Run Solar Project, LLC, Savion plans to develop an 800-megawatt solar power plant supported by a 300-megawatt battery system.
The project encompasses around 6,050 acres within Monroe, Somerford, and Deercreek townships. Midwest Farms LLC owns one of the farms and is a company with a history of large-scale swine farming, thus showing how traditional farmland can be utilized for dual-use solar.
Status and Key Events
The journey towards developing Oak Run has progressed step by step:
2022 – The application for the Oak Run Solar Project is received by the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB).
2023 – Public hearings and feedback take place, with aggressive local debate around land use and agricultural land.
March 21, 2024 – OPSB finally approves Oak Run, with conditions to facilitate agrivoltaic incorporation: at least 1,000 sheep and 2,000 acres of crops in the first year, up to around 4,000 acres (70% of usable land) in eight years.
Summer–Fall 2024 – Residents and members of the local government appeal the ruling, arguing that too much farmland is being lost. Their rehearing request is denied, and the Madison County Commissioners in October 2024 pass a resolution to appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court.
2025 (current) – The project remains approved, but under appeal to the Supreme Court. To date, no work has begun, although once judicial objections are resolved, it will recommence.
What the Project Delivers
When built, Oak Run will:
Provide 800 MW of renewable energy, enough to supply about 170,000 homes.
Be connected to the PJM electricity grid through an adjacent 765-kV transmission line.
Generate an estimated $250 million in tax income to Madison County over its 35-year lifespan.
Be a model of dual-use land practices, blending agriculture and renewable energy through cropping and grazing.
The Oak Run Solar Project is proof that energy and agriculture are not mutually exclusive. When built as planned, it will be Ohio’s largest solar farm and the nation’s largest agrivoltaic project—a model of how the United States can generate energy and produce food in conjunction.
Oak Run Solar Project – Factsheet
Location: Madison County, Ohio (Monroe, Somerford, and Deercreek Townships)
Developer: Savion (Kansas City, Missouri) through Oak Run Solar Project, LLC
Project Type: Agrivoltaic solar + battery energy storage
Key Specifications
Solar Capacity: 800 megawatts (MW)
Battery Storage: 300 MW
Site Area: 6,050 acres
Agrivoltaic Use:
Year 1: 1,000 sheep + 2,000 acres of crops
Year 8: 70% of farmable area (4,000 acres) in dual-use farming
Grid Connection: PJM Interconnection, through nearby 765 kV transmission line
Timeline
2022: Application filed with Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB)
March 2024: OPSB approves project with agrivoltaic conditions
Oct 2024: Madison County Commissioners vote to appeal to Ohio Supreme Court
2025: Appeal pending; construction to begin after resolution
Investment & Benefits
Estimated Cost: $1 billion
Households Powered: 170,000
Projected Local Tax Revenue: $250 million over 35 years
Operational Life: 35 years
Status: Approved, under legal appeal. Construction not yet begun (as of Sept. 2025).
Also Read
