Morrow County commissioners hear developers, unions spar over labor plans for county solar project

Morrow County commissioners on July 7 heard a presentation and a sustained exchange about a utility-scale solar project in the county, including the developer’s construction plans, local-hire commitments and a labor dispute involving unions.

The discussion matters because the project is cleared to start construction and will bring road upgrades and paid work to the county, while county officials and union representatives pressed developers on whether the jobs will include prevailing-wage benefits, apprenticeship hours and locally sourced labor.

Colin Kelly, a representative of Solar Systems, said the company owns the project that received an interconnection agreement last November and “approval from the Ohio Power Siting Board, to start construction on the project.” He said Solar Systems selected Q Cells as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor and that Q Cells is targeting 80% local labor while paying prevailing wages. “We want to be good partners of the community,” Kelly said, adding the developer agreed to a road-lease that includes $495,000 in road upgrades.

Union representatives disputed somevendor claims about benefits and registrations. Jeff (last name not specified), speaking for local building trades, said that prevailing-wage packages include more than the take-home check and that members contribute to health care and retirement through payroll deductions. “Out of that total prevailing wage package, our members contribute $8.60 an hour towards their health care, and they contribute $4.40 an hour into their pension,” he said. He also said the state pilot program requires 15% of project hours come from registered apprentices and that registered apprenticeship programs require Department of Labor approval.

Travis, identified in the meeting as a Q Cells representative, told the commissioners the company intends to provide health coverage for direct hires and that third-party labor suppliers offer benefit packages. He said Q Cells expects direct hires “will have covered health care” and that the company’s third‑party suppliers also “offer those packages of 401(k), health insurance.” He said he could not confirm whether all third‑party suppliers fully fund every benefit and offered to follow up.

Speakers also discussed earlier changes to the pilot-local labor requirement. Kelly said bidders were initially asked to meet 80% local labor, and that later the statutory threshold changed to 70%, which contractors may elect to use if they pay prevailing wages. Union speakers urged a narrower definition of “local” to favor workers in Morrow County and adjacent counties rather than a broader regional pool.

The meeting included references to contractor vetting and credentialing. Kelly said the project team had met with property owners to adjust designs and had completed a road-lease agreement. Union representatives said they would demonstrate training and mobilization at a public event and invited developers and county officials; they also said they can supply registered apprentices and training but that creating apprenticeship capacity from scratch takes months or years.

Protest activity near the developer’s office was noted; Kelly said Solar Systems was not associated with the protest and described the company’s willingness to meet and collaborate with local stakeholders. Union leaders encouraged developers to engage in sit-down meetings, and they announced a demonstration and job fair for registered apprentices and other workers.

The commissioners did not take a formal vote on labor terms at the meeting; discussion centered on clarification and outreach. Commissioners asked staff and the parties to continue engagement, and developers and union representatives said they would follow up with documentation and meetings.

Construction readiness: Kelly said the project had received the key state approval and was “clear to start construction,” and Q Cells representatives said work on terminations and other tasks would follow established schedules. Union speakers reiterated they will monitor hiring and benefits and continue outreach to workers and contractors.

A job fair and a training demonstration were announced by union representatives as near-term outreach; developers said they will participate where appropriate and provide documentation on labor sourcing and benefit plans on request.