Responsible Growth and Sustainable Revenue for Licking County

Meet the Team

  • Samantha Sawmiller

    Director of Development

    Samantha is an experienced developer based in Columbus, Ohio. She has been involved in all aspects of development at the Harvey Solar Project. Samantha grew up on a small farm in Southwest Ohio where her parents still live. She is an OIF Marine Corps Veteran. After being discharged honorably from active service, she studied at the Ohio State University and graduated with a BS in Environmental Policy. She also holds an MPA from the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs at Ohio University. Samantha has been an advocate for Ohio’s military personnel and veterans in her personal and professional life, having worked as a State Military and Veteran Liaison for a United States Senator.

  • Doug Herling

    Vice President

    Doug is an experienced developer based in Austin, Texas. Doug is primarily involved with permitting, land title, and government relations at Harvey. Doug managed the development of several successful solar projects in Ohio, including the now operational 200 MW Hillcrest Solar Project, soon-to-be operational 150 MW Willowbrook Solar Project, and under-construction 144 MW Clearview Solar Project. Prior to joining Open Road, Doug worked for Pioneer Green Energy, leading the development of the 300 MW Prairie Hill Wind Farm and 300 MW Limestone Wind Farm. Doug holds a B.A. in Geology from Colgate University and received his MBA from the University of Texas McCombs School of Business.

  • Rashay Khripunova

    Director of Community Relations

    Rashay is a skilled community engagement professional based in Columbus, Ohio. Rashay leads community relations and outreach for the Harvey Solar Project. Aside from Harvey Solar, Rashay lead community relations on the OPSB permitted Blossom Solar Project in Morrow County. Rashay informs and develops engagement strategy at Open Road, drawing on a diverse background in business and engage. Rashay received her MBA from Franklin University and entered into the solar development world shortly after as a community engagement consultant. Rashay joined Open Road’s team in 2021 and has launched all sorts of community-first initiatives that place Open Road’s visions in alignment with local communities.

Harvey Solar

Harvey is a proposed 350 MW solar project located primarily in Hartford Township, Licking County, OH. The project will consist of thousands of interconnected solar modules mounted on racking affixed to steel pilings driven into the ground. Harvey will be working with the community and county to permit this project in the summer of 2021 at the Ohio Power Siting Board.

The Harvey Solar Project is being developed by Open Road Renewables. Open Road is a renewable energy company focused on development of utility-scale clean energy projects in the United States. Open Road’s highly experienced team is on a mission to make the promise of clean energy and economic security a reality for communities across the country.



Local Benefits

Solar allows landowners to diversify their income, plan for retirement, or even put their kids through college while preserving the land for their future generations. Outside of the benefits to the participating landowners, there are benefits to the community from the increased tax revenue generated by the project, well-paying construction and long-term jobs, and the potential for increased local investment from companies looking to site facilities proximate to renewable energy facilities.

Revenue from Harvey will support the local tax jurisdictions where the Harvey is located. Harvey plans to apply for status as a Qualified Energy Project, which would mean it would pay an annual Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) of $9,000/MW, resulting in $3.1 million/yr to local taxing jurisdictions (more than 15x what is currently collected from the same acreage) and $126.0 million over the 40-year life of the project.

Aside from predictable revenue, the PILOT has many benefits to Licking County and local taxing jurisdictions including:

  • School Districts are “held harmless”, meaning that the increase in revenue due to Harvey will not affect the school finance formula. This revenue is additive to their budget.

  • 80% in-state labor requirement during construction

  • Road Use and Maintenance Agreement ensuring roads are kept in good shape during construction and returned to their previous condition

  • Support for local college or vocational school

  • Training and equipment for first responders


Minimal Impact

Modern solar farms consist of thousands of solar modules mounted on racking. The racking is mounted on steel posts driven into the soil without the use of poured concrete. Existing drainage is maintained and the entire site is planted with hardy, native grasses, even under the solar modules. Harvey is required to bond the project’s eventual decommissioning, allowing for adequate funding to return the site to its current agricultural condition.


Experienced Ohio Developers

The Harvey Solar team developed the operational 200 MW Hillcrest Solar Project in Brown County, the 150 MW Willowbrook Solar Project under construction in Brown and Highland Counties, the 144 MW Clearview Solar Project under construction in Champaign County, and an additionall 300 MW of OPSB approved projects in Preble and Morrow Counties.