Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval joined city leaders to break ground on the 10-MW Center Hill Solar project, which will be developed on the city-owned Center Hill Landfill site in Winton Hills. This transforms a decades-long-dormant brownfield into one of the largest renewable energy investments in the city.
The Center Hill Landfill, pictured in 2004. Credit: Ohio Redevelopment Projects
“We have long been proud to be at the cutting edge of environmental action and innovative investments into climate resilience and the green economy. We are especially proud to have been the leader on municipal solar, with our 100-MW farm in Highland County,” said Mayor Aftab. “It is part of what puts us on the map and what makes me so confident about our future as a city. And just as importantly, it is part of what will protect us from the extreme uncertainty we are seeing, around the nation and world, when it comes to rising energy costs. Now, we are moving even further.”
The project is structured as two 4.9-MW arrays, which together will generate approximately 18.2 million kWh of clean electricity annually. All electricity produced will serve city facilities through the grid, helping stabilize municipal energy costs and protect taxpayers from future rate volatility.
“This project turns yesterday’s landfill into tomorrow’s power plant,” said Ollie Kroner, Director of the City’s Office of Environment & Sustainability. “This is our next big leap to bring the Green Cincinnati Plan to life and take control of our energy future.”
The $24 million project will be developed and maintained by UPower Energy. The development seeks to take advantage of the federal ITC, which can help cover an estimated 50% of project costs.
City leaders say the project advances multiple priorities at once: affordability, resilience, sustainability and neighborhood revitalization. The redevelopment also improves a property that has historically faced illegal dumping and blight, converting it into productive infrastructure that delivers lasting community value.
Located on 64 acres of a capped landfill, dormant for nearly 30 years, the site was identified as the strongest performer in the city’s Brownfields to Brightfields evaluation, offering high energy yield, minimal grading needs, and proximity to existing electrical infrastructure. The development will use a lightweight, low-impact mounting system that reduces material use and speeds installation, while disturbed areas will be reseeded with pollinator-friendly plants near Mill Creek.
Construction will prioritize local electrical contractors and workforce participation, supporting Cincinnati’s growing clean-energy economy. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with operations anticipated by early 2027.
Cincinnati is no stranger to solar power, signing a 20-year PPA for 100 MW of solar built 40 miles east of the city.
