Large solar power facility approved for southern Millville; work likely starts in 2023
May 12, 2021
“Solar energy developers will construct a “utility scale” generation facility on a 689-acre site south of the municipal airport they are purchasing from a mining company.”
Solar, the farmer’s best friend
May 04, 2021
“When it comes to solar farms and farmland, it’s a matter of mutual benefits rather than just peaceful coexistence.”
Utility-scale solar is cheapest means to achieve NJ’s clean energy goals
March 21 2021
“Historically, New Jersey incentivized in-state solar only if it were small-scale. The specific program addressed in the editorial encourages utility-scale solar farms that are located in-state. Given its inherent economies of scale, utility-scale solar generates the lowest-cost renewable energy that can be produced in the state.”
Harmony Twp. Officials Approve $100M Solar Project
March 02 2021
“In January, Harmony Township officials approved a 70-megawatt solar energy generation farm, clearing the way for construction to begin on the project by the end of 2021. The project, called Harmony Plains Solar, is sited on several parcels accessible from Garrison Road, Brainards Road and Harmony Station Road. Harmony Plains Solar is being developed by Dakota Power Partners (dba Dakota Renewable Energy), which will invest $100 million in the project that is anticipated to begin operation in late 2022. “
Nod To Solar
February 03 2021
“The Millville Planning Board unanimously approved a 50-megawatt solar energy farm at its January 12 meeting, with construction expected to commence this fall, and operation planned for a year later.”
Millville Officials Approve 50-MW Nabb Solar I Project
January 19 2021
“The Millville Planning Board unanimously approved a 50-megawatt solar energy generation farm during its monthly meeting on January 12, clearing the way for construction to begin on the project by the end of 2021. The project, called Nabb Solar I, located along Nabb Avenue in western Millville, is being developed by Dakota Power Partners (dba Dakota Renewable Energy), and is anticipated to begin operation in the fall of 2022.”
Solar project gets Millville approval, city likes tax angle on project
January 13 2021
“City planning officials have cleared a solar power field for construction that its future operator estimates will generate more than $260,000 in annual property taxes, with most of it going to local government and schools.”
Raleigh County Board of Zoning Appeals approves solar farm
November 10 2020
“The Raleigh County Board of Zoning Appeals approved a conditional use permit for a new solar farm. The solar farm will be constructed in the Grand View area of Raleigh County and be operated by Raleigh Solar. The solar farm will be used in addition to other sources of electricity such as fossil fuels, but the solar farm will be able to provide enough energy to power 16,000 homes. The solar farm will also add to Raleigh County’s economy.”
How To Have Your Solar Farm And Keep Your Regular Farm, Too
October 09 2020
“Julie Bishop is one of the pioneers in this movement. She got involved more or less by accident a few years ago. She had begun raising sheep on a small farm in Newfield, New Jersey, but didn't have a lot of pasture land for them. One day, as she was driving to visit her mother nearby, she passed a 15-acre solar installation … Dakota Power Partners is designing the project with sheep in mind, and will include a barn for Bishop to use. The company is highlighting this in its efforts to get approval for their project.”
Solar Grids Built on NJ Farmland Get Senate Backing
August 25 2020
“The legislation (S-2605) won approval from the Senate Environment and Energy Committee, as proponents argued the state never would achieve the Murphy administration’s goal to transition to a clean-energy economy without a robust solar energy program. And perhaps more importantly, they said, a green economy that promotes building larger solar fields that supply power to the grid.”
400,000 solar panels, 800 acres, 1,000 sheep. A preview of N.J.’s largest solar project.
August 17 2020
“The Nichomus Run Solar Farm, proposed by developer Dakota Power Partners, would cover 800 acres of land in Pilesgrove Township — 650 of which will be lined with rows of roughly 400,000 solar panels. If the project receives the necessary approvals, construction would begin in late 2021. It is currently before local Planning Board, with a public hearing continuing on Wednesday.”
Sheep, ag and sun: Agrivoltaics propel significant reductions in solar maintenance costs
August 04 2020
“As the U.S. solar industry expands, arrays are spreading across more land — and the cost of keeping the sun on those panels through vegetation management is rising. A one-shot solution to both the land-use and cost challenges is emerging: agrivoltaics. The term covers dual-use projects that co-locate agriculture and photovoltaic panels, and often reduce O&M costs in the process.”
Solar Farms on NJ Farmlands? State Looks to Boost Large-Scale Projects
July 20 2020
“The state wants to sharply ramp up efforts to build utility-scale solar projects in New Jersey, a strategy that could result in opening up existing agricultural land to huge new solar farms.
Under a bill (S-2605) now under consideration by lawmakers, a policy initiated during the Christie administration of steering new solar projects away from farmland would be scrapped. That would open up land to accommodate large solar projects that supply power directly to the grid.”
Solar farm planned for at least 700 acres in Northumberland County
July 03 2019
“A Colorado-based energy company leased about 700 acres in Northumberland County as it seeks to finish construction of a $75 million ground-mounted solar farm in 2022.
Dakota Power Partners' proposed 70-megawatt, zero-emission system would generate enough electricity to power 13,000 average homes in Pennsylvania, according to company director Erik Duncan.”
Renewable energy company proposes $1B solar investment in N.J.
June 07 2019
“Dakota Power Partners, a renewable energy company with offices in Millville and Denver, Colorado, announced recently it has proposed a $1 billion utility-scale solar investment in the state.
The company has proposed to create a portfolio of low-cost, utility-scale solar and solar and battery storage projects in New Jersey. Collectively, the new solar projects will total more than 1,000 megawatts and will produce enough energy to power 175,000 homes, it said.”
Millville plugs solar power future for utility land
May 22 2019
“The city is endorsing a solar power developer as the best possible purchaser of a roughly 1,330-acre property that Atlantic City Electric owns in western Millville, with officials swayed significantly by a projection of sizable tax revenues for at least 30 years.”
United States Surpasses 2 Million Solar Installations
May 09 2019
“The U.S. is now home to more than 2 million solar PV installations, Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) announced today. The mark comes just three years after the industry completed its 1 millionth installation, a feat that took 40 years to accomplish.”
U.S. Solar Market Adds 10.6 GW of PV in 2018, Residential Market Rebounds
March 13 2019
“For the third year in a row, the U.S. solar industry installed double-digit gigawatts (GW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity, with 10.6 GW coming online in 2018.
The amount was a 2 percent decrease from 2017. However, the forecast shows the market rebounding in the years ahead, according to the newly released U.S. Solar Market Insight 2018 Year-in-Review Report from Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).”
Proposed $75M solar farm in York County gets green light from zoners, would be largest in Pa.
March 13 2019
“A proposed solar farm in York County won a crucial approval Monday, the Central Penn Business Journal has reported.
Conewago Township’s Zoning Hearing Board unanimously approved a special exception for the $75 million Strinestown Solar Farm, to be developed by Dakota Power Partners.
Dakota Power next will submit a land development plan to the township for approval, a project official told LNP.”