The Northern Virginia Daily

December 12, 2009

Council looks ahead to bids for solar firm

By: M. K. Luther

Amid public concern about the handling of a proposed solar energy installation, the Town Council plans to review the proposed time frame for seeking bids on the project during a meeting later this month.

The proposed 27-acre solar farm is slated for development at Royal Phoenix, the former location of the Avtex Fibers Superfund site.

The development was initially planned to be constructed by SolAVerde Inc., a joint venture between local Arctic Air Refrigeration owner Greg Horton, and Leesburg-based developer William Lauterbach.

In October, SolAVerde announced plans to merge with Standard Solar of Gaitherburg, Md., forming Standard Energy LLC, with Steven G. Lamb at the helm, with Lamb's partner Jim Sharman and local builder Donnie Poe also involved with the new company. The newly formed limited liability corporation was registered with the State Corporation Commission as of Oct. 5.

Front Royal's energy director, Joe Waltz, updated council members on the necessary turnaround time for a request for proposals at the council's regular Monday work session.

A draft request for proposal had previously been sent to council members for review, and Waltz said he wanted to gauge the panel's response to a staff recommendation of 30 days.

"The biggest point of interest is the time allowed to submit to a RFP," Waltz said.

Waltz said an extended time frame of 60-90 days would allow bids to be submitted by parties who were not serious about following through with the development deal.

After speaking with the consultants, Waltz said he was advised that interested project parties would have no issue with a month-long deadline for request for proposals.

While requests for proposals are normally presented to and approved by the town staff, council members agreed the nature of the solar farm and the potential financial impact to the town warranted the involvement of the Town Council.

"This is the first time we have ever had one on this particular subject and the value of the subsequent contract which might flow from the award of this RFP would be considerable -- into the millions of dollars, potentially involving borrowing and debt and so forth," Town Attorney Thomas R. Robinett said.