Minster receives national, state energy awards

MINSTER - Recent additions of a solar field and energy storage site to the village's electric system are gaining state and national recognition.

The village received awards this month from Green Energy Ohio and the Smart Electric Power Alliance for tying the new 4.2 megawatt solar field west of the village on Minster-Fort Recovery Road and the 7 megawatt energy storage site on North Ohio Street into the village's electric system.

"To the best of our knowledge, we are the first public power community to combine a solar array with a battery storage system in the United States," village administrator Don Harrod said.

Green Energy Ohio named Minster the 2015 Ohio Clean Energy Community of the Year for the sustainability created by the two projects.

The village also received high marks for the first time from the Smart Electric Power Alliance for installing 2,104 watts per customer in 2015. The mark put Minster at No. 1 on the Top 10 list of watts per customer for the year.

The top five in the category included Dominion North Carolina Power, 1,946 watts; City of Palo Alto Utilities, 1,846 watts; Carey Municipal Power & Light, 1,351; and Guam Power Authority, 661 watts.

It is the first time the village has been recognized by either group, Harrod said.

"The village is honored to be recognized by both the Smart Electric Power Alliance and Green Energy Ohio," he said.

"The electricity from the solar field goes directly onto the village's electric grid and is used by the customers of the village's electric system," he said.

The solar field will lower energy costs for the village's customers by reducing the amount of energy to be purchased on the open market. Customers will see a lower cost as long as the rate the village pays for the solar power is lower than the market rate for electricity, Harrod said.

There are no transmission costs for the solar field-generated electricity, a factor that also will lower costs.

 The savings each costumer can receive will be reflected in the village's power cost adjuster, shown on the back of each customer's utility bill, Harrod said.

The solar field was completed in December and the storage site construction wrapped up in March with the help of American Renewable Energy and Power; both are owned by Half Moon Ventures of Chicago.

The projects cost a total of $18 million, which was paid by Half Moon. The venture group will also pay the village $1,000 a month for 25 years for the North Ohio Street property.

Village officials plan an open house at the solar field and storage sites on May 7. Times have yet to be determined.