Invenergy has announced the recent start of operations at the 250 MW Hardin III Solar Energy Center, the company’s third solar facility in Hardin County, Ohio.

According to Invenergy, WEC Energy Group is the majority owner of Hardin III, and Microsoft will purchase the electricity and renewable energy credits (RECs) generated at the facility through a power purchase agreement (PPA).

The Hardin III solar plant is expected to generate $180 million in new investment in Hardin County, supporting public schools, emergency services, and local infrastructure.
During construction, the project created more than 350 jobs, and under a long-term operations agreement, Invenergy Services will handle operations, maintenance, and plant services, employing four full-time staff.

Hardin III is powered by U.S.-made solar panels produced by Illuminate USA, an advanced solar panel manufacturing company majority-owned by Invenergy. Since 2023, Illuminate USA has produced more than 9 million solar panels and created over 1,500 high-quality jobs in Ohio.

Michael Kaplan, Senior Vice President of Development at Invenergy, stated: “Hardin III Solar is the culmination of a decade-long collaboration with Hardin County and the local community. We’re proud to have partnered with dedicated stakeholders to bring meaningful local investment and support clean energy in Ohio.”