Solar booms in industrial US midwest as energy crisis persists
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- D3Energy has installed more than 3,400 floating solar panels on four acres of Twin Lake Reservoir, creating a 3.4‑MW array that powers Lima’s water treatment plant.
- Twin Lake Reservoir now hosts the floating solar site, which uses two acres per megawatt—about 60% less land than ground‑mounted farms.
- Lima water treatment plant will receive continuous power, helping keep water rates stable despite Ohio’s $5‑per‑gallon gasoline prices driven by the war on Iran.
- D3Energy recently completed a floating solar project three times larger just 90 miles northwest of Lima, underscoring rapid scaling in the Midwest.
- Ohio gas pump prices have risen to $5 a gallon, a direct result of geopolitical tensions, spurring demand for alternative energy like floating solar.
Why it matters: Lima's water utility saves on electricity by using 3,400 floating solar panels, cutting its energy bill and keeping water rates stable for residents, while reducing reliance on $5‑per‑gallon gasoline‑powered generators.
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