Front Royal officially opens 15-acre solar power field

SNIP, Front Royal enters the 21st Century of sustainable energy power generation as Mayor Hollis Tharpe, surrounded by 5 of 6 council members (John Connolly was absent), cuts the ribbon on the Town’s 15-acre, 2.5 MW solar field. Photos/Roger Bianchini

Shortly after 6 p.m. Monday, May 22, Mayor Hollis Tharpe made solar power in Front Royal official with a ceremonial ribbon cutting.  Actually Acting Environmental Services Director David Jenkins confirmed that the 15-acre solar field has been active and producing power into the Town’s electrical grid since April 5.

All of the 2.3 to 2.5 Megawatts of power produced at the solar field at the end of Manassas Avenue remains here supplementing power to town electric utility customers.  The solar power produced on site can power 350 homes with an average 200-amp service typical of today’s market.  That power is produced by 10,523 solar modules on site.

Acting Energy Services Director David Jenkins hosted us during a February visit as Front Royal’s solar power site was in the final stages of development.

The Front Royal solar field was developed as part of the Town’s involvement in the 30-plus member American Municipal Power cooperative.  That cooperative, once know as AMP-Ohio, is now based in seven states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky.

Front Royal’s membership in the AMP cooperative has helped result in the Town being rated the lowest-cost municipal energy provider in Virginia the past two years, and within the three lowest providers in the state over the past 5 years.

Participants mingle following Monday’s dedication of Front Royal’s solar field.

AMP solar contractor Next-Era will manage and own the site for 30 years, after which the Town will have an option to buy control of the solar field.

In addition to the ribbon-cutting mayor, present for the official dedication of the solar field were council (minus John Connolly), Acting Town Manager Joe Waltz, his replacement at the top of the energy department, Acting Director David Jenkins, Town Finance Director B.J. Wilson, as well as AMP’s Pam Sullivan, solar field operator NextERA’s Jill Dvareckas, the Blue Ridge Power Agency’s Alice Wolfe and Todd House of Washington Gas.