A proposed project from a North Carolina-based solar energy company, which already has two projects in Venango County, is set to break ground in Washington Township, Clarion County, next spring.
Helmed by Cypress Creek Renewables, the planned $30 million solar field named “Cobalt” started early development last year, with the 20-megawatt “farm” spanning 190 acres and divided between two properties in the Lake Lucy area. Twenty megawatts is enough to power about 3,500 homes.
“At Cypress Creek Renewables, we’re what’s called an independent power producer. We’re one of the country’s largest and we develop, build, and own and operate solar fields and energy storage projects across the country. We have several in this region,” said Parker Sloan, Cypress Creek’s director of community and economic development.”
The Clarion County Planning Office had identified the planned site as four parcels; three of which are owned by Matt Steinman, and the fourth parcel, about 118 acres, is owned by Bruce Weaver.
Solar energy works when sun shines onto a solar panel and the energy from the sunlight is absorbed by the PV cells within the panel. This energy creates electrical charges that move in response to an internal electrical field in the cell, causing electricity to flow.
Aaron Steely, Cypress Creek’s senior project developer, said the lifespan for this project is about 40 years.
Community solar, he said, is not yet approved in Pennsylvania; “so, there’s no legal structure for us to sign up a bunch of homes and push it onto people. If you want to pursue that, and we think you should, you can definitely do so.”
Steely said there is “a lot of value and desire and demand” for clean power in Pennsylvania, and the mid-Atlantic generally, and northwestern Pennsylvania is relatively flat in comparison with the rest of the state; “so, it’s an attractive location for this type of thing.”
Cobalt Solar LLC, a division of Cypress Creek, will construct the project. Groundbreaking is set for late March; with completion expected in September.