The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners and the Ottawa County Sanitary Engineering Department have announced the completion of the Danbury Wastewater Reclamation Plant Solar Project. The initiative followed a public Request for Proposals process, which resulted in Kokosing Solar, an Ohio-based company, being selected as the Design-Build and EPC partner.
The project features solar panels produced by First Solar in Rossford, Ohio, and a racking system manufactured by OMCO using American galvanized steel. This approach supports Ohio’s role in the solar industry.
Water and wastewater facilities use about 3% of all electricity in the United States. The new solar array at the Danbury plant is designed to generate 906 megawatt-hours of electricity annually, meeting between 92% and 95% of the facility’s energy needs. Over its expected lifespan, it is projected to save sanitary sewer customers in Danbury Township more than $1.9 million on electricity over two decades. The project cost less than $1.45 million and was funded through Danbury sewer operating reserves.
Ottawa County plans to apply for federal tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act Direct-Pay Program, which is anticipated to cut project costs by about half. Data from Kokosing Solar estimates that the investment will be recouped within eight to nine years; after this period, further savings are expected for plant operations.
The ground-mounted solar array spans approximately 2.6 acres at the water reclamation facility on Von Glahn Road. Construction began in May 2025, with energy production starting on October 3, 2025. Kokosing Solar managed all aspects of construction directly.
