Mon Power, Potomac Energy ink deal with Harpers Ferry, West Virginia for solar power
Mon Power and Potomac Edison, subsidiaries of FirstEnergy Corp., struck an agreement with the town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, to use solar energy for streetlights and the town hall.
Mon Power and Potomac Edison recently got approval from the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) for five proposed solar facilities. The projects will generate a total of 50 megawatts of renewable solar generation across the five solar sites. From that output, the town of Harpers Ferry has committed to a subscription equal to 100 percent of its streetlight and town hall energy usage using the companies’ solar power.
“Support of this solar initiative is good governance, and municipal, county, and state government entities should lead by example,” Harpers Ferry Mayor Gregory Vaughn said. “We must look beyond the present and how we have always functioned to strategically think and plan for how we meet, manage and fulfill future energy requirements. Harpers Ferry’s decision to support the solar initiative was unanimous, receiving my overwhelming support as well as that from all members of the Town Council.”
Mon Power and Potomac Edison will seek final approval for the Harpers Ferry project from the PSC once they have subscription commitments from other customers that achieve a combined total of at least 85 percent of the energy produced by the facilities.
“We believe the commitment from Harpers Ferry and residential customers shows growing interest in the development of renewable energy in West Virginia,” Jim Myers, president of FirstEnergy’s West Virginia Operations, said. “We look forward to working with more customers who have interest in supporting the clean energy transition through solar power.”
Mon Power will build, own and operate the five solar facilities, which will be located at a 26-acre reclaimed ash disposal site in Berkeley County; a 51-acre site adjacent to a Mon Power substation in Hancock County; a 27-acre retired ash disposal site in Marion County; a 95-acre site in Monongalia County adjacent to Fort Martin Power Station; and a 44-acre reclaimed strip mine property in Tucker County.
Participation in the solar program is first come, first served. The overall subscription cost is 4 cents per kilowatt hour in addition to normal rates. Customers can choose from a variety of subscription levels and term lengths. To find out more about the solar program, Mon Power and Potomac Edison customers in West Virginia can go to firstenergycorp.com/WVSolar.
Mon Power serves about 395,000 customers in 34 West Virginia counties. Potomac Edison serves about 275,000 customers in seven counties in Maryland and 151,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.
