Buck joins local leaders for solar groundbreaking

‘Savings, security and stewardship.’ Solar project underway at Centre County Correctional Facility

By Marley Parish

Construction on the Centre County solar array is underway, and once complete, officials expect the project will save money, increase stewardship and make the correctional facility one of the most energy efficient public facilities in the state.

During a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, county and state officials celebrated the installation of over 330 posts that will hold more than 3,000 panels. Located at 700 Rishel Hill Road in Benner Township, the array will cover six acres of land and the ground mounted photovoltaic bifacial solar panels will capture direct and indirect sunlight to generate enough electricity to power 170 homes for an entire year. The project could save the county as much as $6 million over 40 years.

“Today represents savings, security and stewardship,” Commissioner Michael Pipe said. “The solar panels and the energy they’re going to produce are going to offset many of our current costs that we have for rising electricity costs.”

In the future, former Ferguson Township Supervisor Peter Buck said the Solar Power Purchase Agreement Partners, an intergovernmental committee, is looking to invest in a solar array that would cover 100 acres of land.

Read more at The Centre Daily Times.