The installation of solar energy plant is being progressed further at Ohio Air National Guard (OHANG) base located towards Eber Road. On January 5th, Marcy Kaptur, congresswoman of the state along with official from the 180th Fighter Wing of Ohio air National Guard and other companies joined towards honoring phase four of the solar project which took place at the base located near the Toledo Express Airport.

The expansion of this project would produce 35 to 40 percent of the base’s energy needs for this reason the entire project has been planned for a fifty percent expansion. The raw materials and supplies towards the project is being delivered from Northwest Ohio, as according to Col. Mark Bartman, commander of the Fighter Wing, its Kaptur who desires the base to be dependant on energy derived as a result of photovoltaic research. And it’s a feeling of pride to use local resources towards the project, as he feels they are community-based force.
Bartman was also quoted saying that the solar installation at their base helped them towards saving a whopping $140,000 in electricity bills during the previous year, considering the fact that ninety-five percent of the resources like materials, suppliers, contracters etc. which went towards the establishment of the solar field came from Northwest Ohio.

As per Kaptur, the completion of this project would cost an investment of $11.4 million which has been reserved by the government. The OHANG solar installation began in October 2008 which generates about 800 kilowatts of electricity capacity, this would be further progressed to 1.2 megawatts as soon as phase four work is complete. An estimated 37 percent of the base requirement will be met through this capacity.

First Solar, a Perrysburg based solar design company has designed the solar panels for this project which are known for its efficiency in performance as these panels have been known to withstand tough conditions lower levels of light and snow.
The solar invertors used for the installation has been manufactured by Nextronex. According to Norm Rapino, CEO of Nextronex, the invertors used for the installations of previous phases came from Germany, they were inefficient. This project would be the first to use the advanced inverter by Nextronex. Its 1000-volt utility scale  system transforms the D.C. energy formed from solar panel into A.C. power energy used as electricity. According to Nextronex, this system would be monitored continuously for its performance as it uses a innovative tracking system.

Other plans of Kaptur towards the Ohio Air National Guard base includes the purchase of electric vehicles which would use the solar generated power from the installations. New methods are being implemented in terms of storage of renewable energy.