The Northern Virginia Daily

July 2, 2009

Proposal for Solar Energy Plant Wins EDA Endorsement

By: M.K. Luther

FRONT ROYAL -- The Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority voted unanimously Tuesday to endorse the local operation of a solar energy power plant.

SolAVerde Inc. proposes to construct a 150- to 200-acre solar panel installation on either the EDA's Happy Creek or Royal Phoenix site. The plant could have the additional capability of manufacturing and producing solar panels for sale and distribution.

The Economic Development Authority also authorized Executive Director Jennifer McDonald to conduct negotiations with SolAVerde for the sale or lease of the properties.

At a Town Council work session last month, SolAVerde representatives presented plans for a large-scale solar farm in the vicinity of Front Royal.

William E. Lauterbach of SolAVerde Inc. explained the full solar installation would take the town and the county one step closer to achieving energy independence.

The town would be able to tap into the energy created by the installation and remove underlying energy production costs, Lauterbach said.

The solar energy plant would also create close to 200 jobs, attract research and development universities to the area and generate alternative energy support from the federal government.

"This is the best of both worlds because we don't have to buy the power," Town Manager Michael Graham said.

The property proposed for the plant is already zoned for industrial use and is adjacent to the existing power substations, reducing the cost of the project's start-up.

After the $200 million installation, the majority of the capital outlay would be paid upfront, minimizing the investment risk for the town, Lauterbach said.

By acting quickly, the EDA could also capitalize on the "green" project by tapping into the current government trend toward providing tax credits and incentives to alternative energy companies.

The installation would be the largest solar farm on the East Coast, Lauterbach said, and its location could draw a younger generation to the area while maintaining the beauty of the Shenandoah Valley, and the town could investigate landscaping options to enhance the panels aesthetically.

"You are on the front end of 'green,'" Lauterbach said.

Lauterbach said SolAVerde is hoping for an October start date for construction and preparation. Private funding for the project will be provided by a German financier already familiar with solar installations, Lauterbach said.