The Greensburg Solar farm is a 140 MW project under development in Decatur County, IN. The photovoltaic solar project will produce enough clean energy to power more than 23,000 homes and is located in an area of no more than 1,700 acres leased from private landowners.
Construction is planned to commence in 2025.
Status: In development
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Capacity
new jobs during construction
in new public funding
homes powered
in December 2023 to Greensburg Community Learning Center
in annual public health savings
Supporting Farmers
Farmers who choose to harvest solar power are following a long tradition of using their land responsibly to produce food, fiber, and fuel. The Greensburg Solar farm will be located on private property, offering participating landowners a reliable source of farm income over the 35 to 40 year life of the project. Farmers who choose to host the clean energy facility have the opportunity to reinvest in their farming operations, save for retirement and use their increased purchasing power to support local businesses throughout the community.
Supporting the Decatur County Community
Greensburg Solar will provide millions of dollars in new tax revenue to Decatur County and local taxing districts. This new source of public funding can reduce the tax burden on residents and be used to increase county budgets to support essential services, including schools, roads, fire departments and first responders.
RWE Clean Energy is active in the Decatur County community by engaging with local schools and nonprofits, giving back through a wide range of community events and engagement opportunities.
In December 2023, RWE Clean Energy and Greensburg Solar farm donated $5000 to the Greensburg Community Learning Center to support their mission of facilitating post-secondary education in the community and adding to the economic welfare and quality of life of Decatur County citizens.
Supporting Rural Economies
Hundreds of jobs will be created during construction, offering opportunities for residents to enter the rapidly expanding clean energy workforce. Local businesses will see an economic boom as demand for lodging, restaurants, supplies, vehicle maintenance, and fuel increases throughout the 12-18 months of construction. During operations, 4+ permanent positions will be created to operate Greensburg Solar, and the project will continue to source supplies from local businesses.
Solar energy has become one of the most affordable and reliable sources of electricity available today. Solar farms increase the resiliency of Indiana’s electric grid while protecting consumers from the volatility and rising costs of traditional energy sources.
The Greensburg Solar farm will be designed to complement existing agricultural land uses, protect the soil, and avoid negative impacts to wildlife. Solar farms produce electricity without generating any pollution, resulting in cleaner air and water when compared to traditional power plants.
Comprehensive studies are required as part of the planning and permitting process to protect public safety and the environment. The Greensburg Solar farm will be virtually silent outside the fence line, while setbacks and vegetative screening will minimize viewshed impacts. Solar panels are designed to minimize glare and are often installed at major airports across the world.
Greensburg Solar will use silicon-based PV panels, which are made of solid-state safe, well-tested materials commonly used in building and household products. To maximize solar energy production and use the project land as efficiently as possible, the Greensburg project will have bifacial solar panels (silicon on both sides of the panel to capture extra sunlight) and the panels will be mounted to a tracking system that follows the sun from east to west over the course of the day. The panels are fully sealed and extremely durable, preventing trace metals from escaping into the surrounding soil. PV solar panels are so safe that millions of families across the U.S. have put solar panels on their homes and literally sleep beneath them.
RWE’s advanced remote operations center will monitor the panels 24/7, 365 days a year, while the onsite operations team will be available to respond in the unlikely event of an emergency.
At the end of Greensburg’s useful life, equipment will be removed, and the land can be returned to its original use.
