Project 01 · Coshocton County, Ohio
Ohio Sunshine
A 2 GW solar module manufacturing plant on Papermill Road in Coshocton County, built on Ohio’s industrial workforce and located within a day’s drive of much of the U.S. population and its solar demand.
The plant
Designed for scale from day one
Ohio Sunshine is designed around two mirrored, fully automated module assembly lines running around the clock. Together they produce about 2 GW of utility-scale modules a year.
The plant will run under long-term toll manufacturing and supply agreements, so line capacity is contracted before production begins. A dedicated quality organization keeps the production records that customers, lenders and tax-credit buyers rely on.
Blackstar has worked on the project since 2023, including a 2023 U.S. Department of Energy submission, and signed a purchase agreement for the Papermill Road site in February 2026.
- Site
- Papermill Road, Coshocton County, Ohio
- Site status
- Under purchase agreement (signed Feb 2026)
- Nameplate
- ~2.0 GW per year
- Building program
- ~220,000 sq ft production building
- Lines
- 2 fully automated module lines
- Product
- Utility-scale, high-efficiency modules
- Commercial model
- Toll manufacturing and module supply
- Utility
- Service planning with AEP Ohio underway
- Workforce
- ~274 permanent roles at full operation
Status
Where the project stands
Future dates are targets and depend on financing, permitting and equipment delivery.
2023
Project launched
Plant design and U.S. Department of Energy submission.
Feb 2026
Site purchase agreement
Agreement signed for the Papermill Road site; amended July 2026.
Now
Site closing and project financing
Closing on the site and arranging construction financing.
Target: early 2027
Construction start
Building works and production line installation, about 16 months.
Target: 2028
First production
Line commissioning and ramp to nameplate output.
Work with Ohio Sunshine
Capacity, supply and careers
Developers and manufacturers can join the Ohio Sunshine order book now. Ohio residents can register interest in future roles.
Quick answer
Where is the Ohio Sunshine plant, and when will it start production?
Ohio Sunshine is planned on Papermill Road in Coshocton County, Ohio. Blackstar International signed a purchase agreement for the site in February 2026. Construction is targeted to start in early 2027, and first production is targeted for 2028.
| Date | Milestone | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Project launched; plant design and U.S. Department of Energy submission | Done |
| Feb 2026 | Purchase agreement signed for the Papermill Road site | Done |
| Jul 2026 | Purchase agreement amended | Done |
| Now | Site closing and construction financing | In progress |
| Early 2027 | Construction start (about 16 months) | Target |
| 2028 | First production and ramp to about 2 GW a year | Target |
Frequently asked
How large will Ohio Sunshine be?
Ohio Sunshine is planned at about 2 GW of solar modules a year from two fully automated lines in a production building of about 220,000 square feet. About 274 permanent roles are planned at full operation.
Who will supply power to Ohio Sunshine?
Blackstar International is planning utility service for the Papermill Road site with AEP Ohio.
Can buyers reserve capacity from Ohio Sunshine now?
Yes. Developers and manufacturers can place a non-binding reservation online. It takes about four minutes and needs no payment. Blackstar’s commercial team then follows up with an indicative term sheet.