Pennsylvania to Build One of Largest Solar Plants on East Coast

One of the biggest solar plants on the East coast will be built in Pennsylvania on leased farm land.
The 14 megawatt project in Lurgan Township would be more than twice the size of Pennsylvania’s largest (6 MW) solar farm currently under construction in East Drumore Township, Lancaster County. Covering about 103 acres, the photovoltaic panels would produce enough electricity to power 2,000 to 2,500 homes, according to Ed Shoener of Shoener Environmental, Dickson City.
It’s the first solar project for Orion Renewable Energy Group, which has developed more than 24 wind farms in the US, including two in Pennsylvania. The company, based in Oakland, California, has leased the land, and is waiting for town permits. It plans to plant the grounds surrounding the panels with grass and wildflowers.

“It’s a lot better than a hog farm because there’s no odor or noise,” explained Ed Shoener of Shoener Environmental to the local newspaper, McClatchy-Tribune Regional News. “It doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. Folks come by from time to time. A lot is monitored by a computer control system. Once it’s completed, a pickup truck comes by one or two time a week for maintenance. That would be about it.”

Photo Credit: Pat Byington, The Green Register

Source: Sustainable Business and various press reports