The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners and the Ottawa County Sanitary Engineering Department are pleased to announce the completion of the Danbury Wastewater Reclamation Plant Solar Project. After a public Request for Proposals (RFP) process, Ohio based Kokosing Solar was selected as the Design-Build and EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) Partner for the Danbury Wastewater Reclamation Plant Solar Project. This project highlighted Ohio’s status as a leader in the solar industry with the incorporation of solar panels manufactured by First Solar in Rossford, OH and the full racking system manufactured in Ohio by OMCO using 100% American galvanized steel.
In the United States, water and wastewater facilities account for 3% of all electricity usage in the country. The solar array was designed to produce 906 MWH of electricity per year, which accounts for 92% – 95% of the energy demand for the plant. Over the solar system’s lifespan, it is projected to save the sanitary sewer customers of Danbury Township over $1.9 million in electrical costs the next 20 years and has helped Ottawa County diversify its sources of electricity. Total project costs were under $1.45 million and was paid for through Danbury sewer operating reserves. The County will be applying for federal tax credits via the federal Inflation Reduction Act Direct-Pay Program, which will reduce the total project cost by about 50%. According to data provided by Kokosing Solar the project will have a return on investment between 8 and 9 years, after which the electricity produced by the array will create a net savings to the Danbury plant operations.
The project involved a ground mounted array covering approximately 2.6 acres at the water reclamation facility located on Von Glahn Rd. In May of 2025 the project broke ground and started energy production on October 3, 2025. Kokosing Solar self-performed the full scope of construction.
