Westerville Planning Commission Approves Rooftop Solar Array for Community Center. More Planned.
In a step toward sustainable energy, the Westerville Planning Commission approved a permit for a large rooftop solar array at the Community Center during its public hearing on Wednesday, September 24. The approval, granted unanimously after brief discussions, paves the way for the installation, marking a key step in the city’s green initiatives.
Westerville Electric Division Director Chris Monacelli told the commission, “This provides local, reliable, affordable energy that fits very nicely in our power supply portfolio and strategy. It aligns directly with City Council’s strategic outcomes as well.”
The approved solar project is a key part of the city’s “Impact Solar” program, a partnership with Community Renewable Energy aimed at reducing electricity costs for the city and its public utility. After the City Council approved the contract in May 2025, the Community Center will soon have 1,283 solar panels as part of a 763-kilowatt system. This setup is expected to produce about 916,062 kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, supporting the facility’s operations and sending any surplus power back to the grid.
Jeff Ruetter, the retired director of the Center for Lake Erie Area Research, Sea Grant, and Stone Laboratory at Ohio State, applauded the city’s plans but had a suggestion to add an educational component. “I would encourage you to consider, with what you’re doing here, ways that you might provide educational opportunities within the community center and within the schools where they could interact with these panels.” Commission Member Steven Munger later asked Monacelli to consider the idea as the project continues.
No-Cost Financing And Operational Hierarchy
City officials emphasized the no-upfront-cost model, where Community Renewable Energy manages installation and maintenance, while the city buys the generated power at a favorable rate.
The Westerville Community Center's solar installation is financed through a collaborative Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) involving Community Renewable Energy and Clean Energy Ventures, a 501(c)(3) non-profit created by the Columbus Partnership. This structure ensures the city incurs no upfront costs for installation, monitoring, or repairs, with funding obtained from low-interest capital through the Columbus Region Green Fund under the “Impact Solar” program.
At the funding level, the hierarchy starts with incentives and low-interest loans, provided by Clean Energy Ventures and Community Renewable Energy. The Impact Solar program uses these resources to offer PPAs that remove barriers, aiming to deliver solar power at rates 20% below market prices.
Community Renewable Energy partners in developing the project, while Clean Energy Ventures takes ownership of the solar equipment. For the 20-year PPA term, Clean Energy Ventures manages all design, permitting, financing, installation, operation, and maintenance, covering the 1,283-panel, 763-kilowatt system without any city expenses.
The Electricity
Operationally, the city purchases the generated electricity at a set, discounted rate to power the community center, with any excess supplied to the local grid to reduce reliance on outside sources. This approach provides immediate savings and helps maintain grid stability.
At the end of the 20-year agreement, ownership will transfer to the City of Westerville at no cost, ensuring continued benefits from the system. Options include extending the PPA or removing the system, but the Impact Solar framework emphasizes asset transfer to maintain long-term renewable energy access.
Westerville is currently supplied with electricity from various sources.
Westerville is a member of American Municipal Power (AMP). AMP uses a diverse power supply portfolio that includes natural gas, wind, hydro, coal, and solar components. The primary source for Westerville is American Electric Power (AEP).
AMP has recently signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Avangrid’s Blue Creek wind project in Ohio to supply energy to its members.
Westerville recently joined the gas-fired Fremont Energy Center co-op.
Westerville offers a “green energy” or renewable portion of its supply through EcoSmart Choice®, which is managed via AMP.
Ohio’s Broader Clean Energy Boom
Westerville’s community-focused project reflects a broader clean energy boom sweeping through Ohio, where large utility-scale solar farms are transforming the state’s energy landscape.
For example, the Atlanta Farms Solar Project in Pickaway County is set to generate 199.6 megawatts (MW), create over 300 jobs, and contribute a projected $48 million in tax revenue over its lifetime.
In nearby Clinton County, the 49 MW Clinton Solar project is currently under construction and is expected to begin operations this year.
Highlighting the scale of this regional investment, the Oak Run solar project in Madison County will combine 800 MW of solar generation with 300 MW of battery storage—enough to power 170,000 households—and is expected to create 3,000 construction jobs.
What’s Next For Westerville?
Construction is expected to begin after the necessary permits are issued by the city, state, and federal agencies.
Monacelli told the commission, “What you may see in the future as we begin to look for additional sites throughout the city to get to that 10 megawatt number, we’re going to start to look at actually some carport potential here at the community center at the south end, covering the senior center entrance.”
The commission meeting was held at the Westerville Justice Center, where Monacelli told the commission, “And actually, this facility, we’re going to be looking at carports here, our water plant, and among other locations that we can find to get up to that 10 megawatt number.. So you may see us again with some further applications in the future.”
Earlier discussions considered installing solar arrays on school buildings. This would require approval from the Westerville City School Board before being submitted to the Planning Commission.
What Is Block And Index Pricing Used by The Electric Division?
Westerville obtains its electricity through a “block and index” strategy, which combines two methods for procurement. First, the city acquires a “block” of its projected power requirements by purchasing a specific amount of electricity at a stable, predetermined price for a set period. This fixed-price portion serves as a hedge against potential spikes in the wholesale energy market, offering a level of budget certainty for that segment of their power supply.
At the same time, Westerville purchases electricity at fluctuating wholesale market rates, referred to as the “index.” This means that the price for this portion of their power will change based on real-time or day-ahead market conditions, which are influenced by factors such as supply and demand, fuel costs, and weather. By incorporating an indexed component, Westerville can take advantage of lower energy costs when market prices are favorable.
The ratio of “blocked” power to “indexed” power can be modified based on Westerville’s risk tolerance, market outlook, and energy consumption forecasts. This blended strategy aims to strike a balance between the security of a fixed price for a portion of its power and the potential cost savings available from the dynamic wholesale market.
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