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).
“Hardin III Solar is the culmination of a decade-long collaboration with Hardin County and the local community,” said Michael Kaplan, Senior Vice President of Development at Invenergy. “We’re proud to have worked with dedicated partners to deliver meaningful local investment and support home-grown energy here in Ohio.”
The Hardin III Solar facility is expected to generate $180 million of new investment in Hardin County, helping to fund public schools, emergency services, and local infrastructure. During its construction, Hardin III Solar created more than 350 jobs. Under a long-term operations agreement, Invenergy Services provides operations, maintenance, and plant services for the facility and will employ four permanent operations and maintenance staff.
Hardin III is powered by American-made solar panels produced by Illuminate USA, an advanced solar panel manufacturing company majority owned by Invenergy. Since 2023, Illuminate USA has produced over 9 million solar panels and created more than 1,500 good-paying jobs for Ohio.
