CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Geronimo Power, formerly National Grid Renewables, has begun operations at its Ross County and Fayette County solar projects.

The 120-megawatt Ross and 47.5-megawatt Fayette projects are expected to generate $73 million in direct economic impact over their first 20 years. Combined with the previously announced Yellowbud Solar project, Geronimo Power’s Ohio portfolio is projected to contribute over $160 million to the state’s economy.

“The addition of Ross and Fayette to our Ohio operating portfolio brings our collective projected economic impact to more than $160 million across the Buckeye state,” said Blake Nixon, president and CEO of National Grid Renewables. “We’re proud of the footprint we’ve built here, and we want to extend a huge thank you to the state of Ohio for opening its doors to our business and investments.”

The projects will contribute $29.5 million in new tax revenue for local counties, emergency services, school districts, and Ohio’s PILOT Program. Geronimo Power also recently started construction on its Dodson Creek and Sycamore Creek solar projects. Once operational, the five projects will produce over 675 megawatts of clean energy in Ohio.

“I have lived in the area for more than 45 years and have found the nearby solar facilities to provide a welcome change to my community,” said Duane Ross, a Fayette project landowner. “The Ross and Fayette solar projects will provide essential revenue streams for residents in this area, and I hope to see more solar projects producing clean energy in the future.”

To celebrate, National Grid Renewables hosted a “Solar Harvest Festival” in October, featuring local businesses and a tour of the Ross project. The company also pledged $670,000 in charitable donations over 20 years, to be managed by The Chillicothe-Ross Community Foundation and The Greenfield Foundation.

Environmentally, the projects are expected to offset 4.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions over 20 years, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator.

Geronimo Power, a farmer-founded company, develops and operates renewable energy projects across the U.S.