Going solar: Chambersburg Borough enters partnership to build solar energy facility

The Chambersburg Town Council voted Monday to approve a public-private

partnership with Sun Tribe of Charlottesville, Virginia, "one of the most experienced public sector solar providers in the Mid-Atlantic United States," a press release noted. 

Under the approved proposal, the Borough of Chambersburg will enter into a 20-year power purchase agreement with Sun Tribe Development – Sun Tribe’s provider of large-scale renewable energy solutions.

The 19.5 MWdc facility, located on Elk Ridge, a section of undeveloped land just outside the Borough of Chambersburg in Hamilton Township, will require no investment of funds for the equipment from the Borough, "while allowing it to see significant financial savings through lower energy costs," the press release noted.

With a planned completion date of Summer 2021, the new solar system will provide enough energy to power approximately 2,450 homes each year.

As Pennsylvania’s largest public power system, this facility represents a significant commitment to solar power, which will help fuel the economic recovery of Chambersburg for decades to come, the press release indicated.

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“The Borough Electric Department has been seeking an opportunity to add solar energy to their power portfolio for years,” Council President Alice Elia said. “The goal was to find a site geographically near the Borough where a system can be constructed and connected directly into the Borough power grid, bypassing the need for wholesale power

purchases from what can be a volatile marketplace. We wanted a renewable energy source that exemplified our commitment to environmental stewardship, but also made economic sense for the ratepayers of Chambersburg.”

Borough Manager Jeffrey Stonehill said the deal will give Chambersburg more agency over the Borough's power.

“While wholesale power rates are at historic lows given the current state of the economy, this deal will allow us to control Chambersburg’s energy future for decades,” Borough Manager Jeffrey Stonehill said. “Chambersburg typically makes spring and fall decisions on purchasing tranches of power. While we remain concerned about the overall economy, this development project is a wise decision. Managing the power supply and its impact on the Borough economy is one of the most important activities of Town Council.”

Smart investment in power will lead to lower operating costs for businesses and major employers and control household expenses, assuming that the economy needs to rebound over the next few months and years, the press release read.

“In a time when tough budget choices are required, public sector leaders are embracing solar power as a source of cost savings and long-term budget control,” Danny Van Clief, CEO of Sun Tribe Development, said. “We’re excited to work closely with the Borough to get this system up and running so that Chambersburg can be powered by affordable,

renewable energy as it continues to grow and attract new residents and businesses.”

Solicitor G. Bryan Salzmann wanted to thank the entire “power team” that worked on these plans for months.

“Specifically,” Mr. Salzmann added, “I wanted to thank Electric Department Superintendent Ronald Pezon, Assistant Superintendent Jeff Heverley, our legal team at McCarter and English in Washington, D.C., and our consulting team at

GDS Associates of Marietta, Georgia, led by Garrett Cole. The Borough team managed to craft a beneficial project for the Borough, while dealing with the impact of the current health crisis.”

“The Borough conducted a Request for Proposals from solar development companies,” Electric Superintendent Ron Pezon said. “We had interest from over a dozen. We interviewed three. We determined that Sun Tribe provided the best potential value for Chambersburg’s ratepayers as experienced providers with a comprehensive team located just down I-81, and we felt that they were the best fit for Chambersburg. We are very excited to undertake this project.”

Stonehill added that the project will be a groundbreaking endeavor.

"It will commit the Borough to renewable energy for decades," he said. "It is a significant project filling Elk Ridge, in Hamilton Township, with solar panels hooked directly to the Borough substation on Commerce Street. In terms of cost of power and offset for not needing to buy the power through the PJM interconnection, it is a win-win.”

He went on to explain, “Just like the previous landfill gas to energy project that the Borough developed at the Blue Ridge Landfill, this project is considered ‘behind the meter’, not originating from the grid, and is for the benefit of Chambersburg homes and businesses.”

Late in 2019, Town Council approved multi-decade leases for the land on Elk Ridge from the two private property owners. If all goes as planned, the development project will break ground in late 2020, and the project will begin to produce electricity in 2021.

On a final note, Alice Elia pointed out, “Working together we can provide both economic and environmental benefits that will lead Chambersburg back after this crisis. We truly thank the state for their support of this project.”

Financial assistance for this project was provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through Gov. Tom Wolf's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.

Carley Bonk is a Watchdog Reporter for the USA Today Network - Pennsylvania. Her coverage spans across the southcentral region of Pennsylvania. She can be reached at cbonk@publicopinionnews.com or on Twitter at @carls_marie.