The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) has announced a local public hearing for a proposed solar energy project in Champaign County.
The project, submitted by Hillclimber Solar, LLC, would include a 116.5-megawatt solar-powered electric generation facility along with a 40-megawatt battery energy storage system. The proposed development would be located south of Urbana.
The public hearing is scheduled for May 13, 2026, at 5 p.m. at the Champaign County Community Center Auditorium, located at 1512 U.S. Route 68 in Urbana.
According to the proposal, the facility would be built on approximately 628 acres within a larger 846-acre project area. Plans include photovoltaic panel arrays, electrical collection lines, inverters, transformers, access roads, a generation interconnection line, and construction staging areas.
The hearing will allow community members to provide sworn testimony regarding the project. Testimony will become part of the official case record reviewed by the OPSB. Those wishing to speak must register upon arrival, and each speaker will be limited to three minutes. Individuals may also submit supporting documents to the administrative law judge during the hearing.
An additional evidentiary hearing is set for May 26, 2026, at 10 a.m. at the offices of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio in Columbus. During that session, the applicant, OPSB staff, and other parties will present expert testimony and evidence.
More information about the proposed facility can be found on the OPSB website under case number 25-0904-EL-BGN.
The OPSB is responsible for reviewing applications for major utility projects across the state, working alongside elected officials, industry leaders, and community stakeholders to guide Ohio’s energy future.
