It’s REALLY happening in Front Royal – solar power

Interim Energy Services Director David Jenkins on site. The Town Energy Services headquarters are the two gray buildings behind the tree line to the left-center. Photos/Roger Bianchini

We took advantage of the spring weather on Friday (Feb. 24) to visit Interim Director of Energy Services David Jenkins at the Department’s headquarters at the end of Manassas Avenue.  And while I love Dave’s band and musical projects on the side – GREAT job at Greg Settle’s memorial service, Dave and crew – it wasn’t a social call.

It was strictly business – SOLAR business.

Following my inquiry of February 23 about what the solar power site looked like, Dave invited me out for a look-see.  The last time I’d been on site was probably early December, a few weeks after stormwater management work began on November 16.  And during that visit the 15 acres appeared essentially unchanged since my first visit following the project’s approval last spring – a rolling, 15-acre somewhat rectangular field, largely bordered by trees.

That has, INDEED, changed – as the photos accompanying this article show.  The bordering trees are still there, but rather than a sprawling field of grass, it is now a sprawling solar array filling up the 15 acres from one end to the other.

Above, early last fall the site, seen through trees, was bare except for grass. Below is a three-photo scan, left to right, of the rows of solar arrays now up across the field.

If you match the largest, most distinctive tree to the right of the first two current photos and at center of third, you can judge the scope of those gray solar panels ranging across the field.

Jenkins said the target date for completion is April 1^st – NO FOOLING.

Following inspections by the Town and project developer American Municipal Power, the solar field will be operational with an estimated 2.7 megawatt capacity.

All of the energy produced at the solar site will be used by the Town since its total energy consumption exceeds the 2.7 Megawatt that will be produced here.  The Town will realize additional energy savings in not having to pay transmission fees for the electricity it is generating on site.

Above, a longer perspective of several rows; below, base of main site generator.

Jenkins said the 2.7 megawatts of power produced at the site can power 350 homes with the average 200-amp service typical of today’s market.  That power will be produced by 10,523 modules supported by 1,356 pier units.

Background

As we have previously reported, the project is being developed as part of the American Municipal Power cooperative the Town has been part of for over a decade.  That 30-odd municipality cooperative is now based in seven states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky.

Front Royal’s Solar Farm contract with AMP includes development, ownership and on-site management of all AMP Solar Fields for 30 years by NextEra.  Information provided by AMP indicates that NextEra is currently one of the nation’s largest generators of solar energy.  The primary on-site subcontractor is Power Secure.

NextEra currently controls approximately 785 Megawatts of solar-generated power; has a $45-billion dollar market capitalization; and a One-Double-A credit rating.

The Town has the option to buy the solar field here after 30 years.

Results

Front Royal’s membership in the AMP municipal energy cooperative over the past decade has been credited with keeping the Town’s energy costs among the lowest in the Commonwealth.  Front Royal has been rated as the lowest-cost municipal energy provider to residential clients in Virginia for the past four years, and was second lowest the prior year, 2012.  As director of energy services, Acting Town Manager Joe Waltz has been the driving force in the Town’s AMP membership, and selection of projects to participate in.

Currently Acting Town Manager, as Front Royal’s Director of Energy Services over the past decade, Joe Waltz has been the architect of the Town’s evolving energy portfolio and lowering rates as a member of the AMP municipal cooperative.

Cost savings have been achieved by maintaining a diversified energy portfolio, achieved through the bulk purchase of energy power blocks, as well as investment is previous member development of natural gas, hydro and coal power plant projects.  The two-tiered AMP solar power project is a continuation of the municipal power cooperative’s independent energy production through its membership.

Front Royal was listed as the second of six “First Tier” AMP solar sites that will produce a total of 25.7 megawatts of solar power.  An additional 24 “Tier Two” solar sites will eventually produce another 75 megawatts.

State and federally-mandated upgrades continue at the Town’s Wastewater Treatment Plant across the street from the solar field.

The Front Royal solar power site is in close proximity to Front Royal’s Waste Water Treatment facility, currently undergoing extensive federal-and-state-mandated upgrades directly across the street from the Energy Department and solar site.