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CleanChoice Energy, the first U.S. company to both own solar generation assets and provide 100% clean energy to consumers, has reached an exciting milestone. The company has successfully connected its first fully owned and operated solar project to the grid. The Blairs Valley solar farm, located in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, can generate enough renewable energy to power 4,500 homes. This project is the first of many that CleanChoice plans to complete in the coming months as part of its ongoing efforts to make clean energy more accessible.
The Blairs Valley solar project, located on 168 acres, has a capacity of 26.15 MW. Designed with advanced development standards, the farm features over 30,000 bifacial solar panels. These panels are supported by flex tracking technology, allowing them to rotate and capture the maximum amount of sunlight. The solar farm is connected to the PJM electric grid, which distributes energy to utilities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and several surrounding states.
Zoë Gamble, President of CleanChoice, expressed her views saying, “This interconnection marks an important milestone in CleanChoice Energy’s long-term solar generation plans. We are not only connecting people to clean energy sources, but now we are also generating and adding renewable energy to the grid. As staunch supporters of the environment, we are committed to responsible development of our solar projects by making mindful design choices that support local wildlife, the land and the community. We are eager to continue this work as we embark upon new solar generation projects and do our part to support a future free from catastrophic climate change.”
CleanChoice Energy has further demonstrated its dedication to the environment by partnering with local seed conservationists to create a solar farm seed mix that attracts pollinators. The design of the Blairs Valley solar project also helps protect existing habitats, including the use of permeable fencing that allows wildlife to move freely and the preservation of natural wetlands through an extended interconnection path.
In addition to the solar farm’s interconnection, CleanChoice has launched a new scholarship program to support the next generation of renewable energy and environmental science leaders. For the first four years of the project’s operation, the company will award an annual $2,500 scholarship to a graduating senior from the local school district to assist with college or vocational education.
Devin Sanderson, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Churchill Stateside Group, stated, “Blairs Valley is just the start of a new way to value the collective impact of people’s choice of clean energy. We are pleased to support CleanChoice in bringing utility scale solar to retail energy customers.”
The Blairs Valley solar project is a trailblazer by using retail supply as the offtaker, enabling it to provide clean energy to thousands of retail customers. Churchill Stateside Group acted as the renewable energy tax equity investor for the project, while Range Renewable Advisors served as an advisor to CleanChoice throughout the development.
The Blairs Valley solar project is the first of many for CleanChoice as the company moves forward with its goal of becoming a solar owner and operator. CleanChoice has also announced a 29 MW solar project in Kylertown, Pennsylvania, which is set to begin construction this winter. In addition, the company has more than ten other solar projects planned in the coming months, further expanding its presence across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. |
