Committee advances $80.7 million Painesville subgrant for EPA-funded solar, battery and brownfield work

Cuyahoga County’s committee voted to advance a major EPA-funded climate project, authorizing staff to move forward with a subgrant agreement with the City of Painesville that would commit up to $80,665,500 over multiple years to install large-scale solar arrays, battery storage and brownfield reforestation on the Occidental Superfund site and several Cuyahoga County properties.

Mike Foley, Department of Public Works (Cuyahoga Green Energy program), told the committee the county was part of a regional coalition that won an EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant worth nearly $130 million. Foley said roughly $50 million of the award is allocated to the county and city partnership, and the current subgrant to Painesville covers the largest individual share (not to exceed $80,665,500) for a five-year period running Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2029.

Project components described to the committee include up to about 35 megawatts of solar at the Occidental property and other sites, and a battery system up to 20 megawatts intended to deliver instantaneous peak capacity and enable Painesville to decommission a coal-fired plant that now provides reserve/peak power. Panelists said the Occidental property (roughly 1,000–1,100 acres) will include solar arrays, remediation and a trail system to Lake Erie as well as reforestation, pollinator habitat and riparian restoration along the Grand River. West Creek Conservancy will lead much of the remediation and nature-based work; the county and partners noted prior landfill-solar experience (Brooklyn site ~4 MW) as precedent.

Speakers discussed supply-chain and regulatory issues. Foley noted the grant prefers American-made solar panels where available and acknowledged potential tariff and availability risks; he said waivers exist if domestic panels are unavailable. West Creek staff said brownfield versus landfill rules differ — landfills have strict caps and cannot be perforated, requiring site-specific engineering. Foley and partners said EPA had authorized moving forward and that the county is in good standing, but contracts include clauses relieving the county of payment obligations if federal funding is later rescinded.

Committee members asked about timelines, environmental safeguards and ownership. Painesville staff said a 20 MW battery and delivery of materials could allow decommissioning by late 2027 if logistics proceed. West Creek and county staff said ownership and long-term stewardship would be phased; conservation easements and aboveground construction on sensitive parcels aim to allow eventual restoration to agricultural use if solar operations cease. The committee moved the subgrant agreement forward by voice vote; several members requested their names be added in support. The item will return to the full council for final action and appropriation.