Cincinnati Breaks Ground on Center Hill Solar Array to Power 1,700 Homes

**TL;DR** Cincinnati broke ground on the Center Hill Solar Array, a solar farm built on a former landfill. The project will generate 18.2 million kWh per year, enough to power about 1,700 homes, and is slated to start construction this year and operate next year.

## Context The Center Hill Landfill in Winton Hills sat idle for years before city officials earmarked it for renewable energy. Transforming brownfields into solar sites aligns with Cincinnati’s Green Cincinnati Plan, which aims to cut carbon emissions and expand clean power. Using already disturbed land avoids impacting green spaces while putting contaminated property to productive use.

## Key Facts Leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, marking the start of the Center Hill Solar Array. The array is expected to produce 18.2 million kilowatt‑hours of electricity annually, sufficient to supply roughly 1,700 average homes. Construction will begin this year, with the facility planned to be operational by next year.

## What It Means At typical utility‑scale solar efficiency, the array will offset thousands of tons of carbon dioxide each year by displacing fossil‑fuel generation. It also demonstrates how municipalities can meet climate goals while redeveloping neglected sites. The power will feed directly into the local grid, helping stabilize supply and reduce reliance on out‑of‑state sources.

## What to Watch Next Officials will track the array’s output and performance metrics once it goes live, using the data to evaluate additional brownfield solar opportunities across the region.