On March 21, the U.S. Department of Energy announced up to $475 million in funding for five projects in Arizona, Kentucky, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia to accelerate clean energy deployment on current and former mine land.

This funding-- made possible by the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-- will support a variety of diverse, locally-driven clean energy projects that can be replicated in current and former mining communities across the country.

Mineral Basin Solar Project

The Mineral Basin: Coal-to-Solar in Pennsylvania project seeks to repurpose almost 2,700 acres of former coal mining land in Clearfield County and develop the largest solar project in Pennsylvania-- a utility-scale 402 MW solar PV facility that will produce enough clean energy to power more than 70,000 homes.

This project will increase regional access to clean energy and fill a critical electricity-generation gap following the closure of the Homer City coal plant.

Due to the site’s topography, environmental, and geotechnical considerations, this project will serve as a demonstration for future mine land-to-solar projects in the Appalachian region and for Swift Current with approximately 1,000 MW to be developed and constructed over the next five years.

The selectee, Mineral Basin Solar Power, LLC, a subsidiary of Swift Current Energy, began meeting with stakeholders in 2020, which resulted in the planning for a Community Benefits Agreement that outlines potential benefits for local municipalities.

As part of its existing Community Benefits Plan, once operational, it will contribute $500 for every megawatt generated annually to Goshen and Girard townships for community improvements of over $200,000 per year.

The project expects to create more than 750 construction jobs and six operations jobs, while providing $1.1 million in annual tax revenue to townships, the county, and local school district.

In addition to direct job creation, Mineral Basin Solar Power, LLC plans to invest nearly $20 million in economic development to remove barriers to economic mobility and create opportunities for youths and adults seeking to upskill, right-skill, and reskill across high-demand sectors in the 27-county region.

Visit the Mineral Basin Solar website for more information.

Click Here for the complete DOE announcement.

Related Articles:

-- Sen. Comitta, Sen. Santarsiero, Rep. Otten, Rep. Abney To Introduce Gov. Shapiro’s Energy, Climate Initiatives  [PaEN]

-- Solar United Neighbors Hails House Committee Action On Community Solar Legislation  [PaEN]

-- US DOE Awards Mineral Basin Solar Project In Clearfield County $90 Million For 402 MW Facility On Abandoned Mine Lands; Filling Gap Left By Closure Of Homer City Coal-Fired Power Plant  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Patch.com: New Era Of Sustainable Energy Proposed By Sen. Santarsiero

-- Spotlight PA: Shapiro’s Energy/Climate Plan Comes With One Major Catch: It Needs Republican Support

-- Electrek: Pennsylvania’s Largest Solar Energy Facility Will Replace Its Largest Coal-fired Power Plant  [Mineral Basin Solar Project, Clearfield County]

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Feds Send $90 Million For Largest PA Solar Energy Project Yet

-- Shenandoah Sentinel: West Mahanoy Planners Give Reading Anthracite Solar Farm Conditional Green Light

-- TribLive: Westmoreland Housing Authority Plots Path To Solar Power

-- PA Capital-Star: House Environmental Committee Reports Out Framework For Leasing Lake Erie Lakebed For Wind Energy Development

-- Erie Times: Wind Farms In Lake Erie Off Erie County Coast?  House Committee Moves Merski Bill

[Posted: March 21, 2024]

3/25/2024