The Northern Virginia Daily

July 20, 2009

Official:  Project is still on schedule

By: M.K. Luther

FRONT ROYAL -- Plans to build what could be the largest solar energy installation on the East Coast in Front Royal are continuing on schedule, according to one of the partners in the development company behind the proposal.

Greg Horton, of Arctic Air and Refrigeration in Front Royal, partnered with Leesburg-based developer William Lauterbach in January with the intention of working to make community buildings more energy-efficient. Horton, who has a background in HVAC system, saw branching out into "green" energy resources as a logical step.

Horton said he is a newcomer to solar energy, but his partner Lauterbach is a "developer by trade" and has crafted several solar energy farms in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. The two came together and formed SolAVerde Inc., presenting to the town and county within the past several months their idea for a local 150- to 200-acre solar panel installation.

"We both sort of had the same vision," Horton said.

SolAVerde Inc. is proposing to construct a $200 million solar installation in Front Royal, with the ability to manufacture solar panels.

The newly formed Front Royal-based company is on track for a planned October construction date and is only waiting on the acquisition of land to contract with private investors.

"We are close to getting it all finalized," Horton said.

The land required for the solar farm would need to be 5.5 acres per megawatt, level and free of trees and shade, Horton said.

The partners are examining several pieces of property, including Happy Creek and Royal Phoenix sites owned by the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority.

Following a June 30 closed session, the EDA voted to authorize negotiations for the sale or lease of property to SolAVerde Inc.

Horton said all permitting could be obtained from the local planning commissions.

The solar farm installation would eventually be structured as a partnership, and the town and county would take ownership, Horton said.

"We are going to produce more power than the town needs," Horton said.

The surplus power would then be sold back to the combined power grid owners, Horton explained.

"We are doing this for the town and the county," Horton said. "Our goal is to have the town of Front Royal become energy-independent."

On Tuesday, Town Manager Michael Graham and Mayor Eugene Tewalt traveled to New York to attend a presentation organized by SolAVerde representatives and partners.

Graham said the project's development requires no actual investment from the town or county.

"The only thing the town will be involved with is buying solar power from them once they build it," Graham said.