Solar power project proposed for Palmer Regional, Rostraver airports

A solar power farm is being considered for the local airport, according to a representative from Venergy Group LLC.

By JOE NAPSHA
TribLive

Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity could become the first Pennsylvania airport of its size to install a solar power array and generate revenue.

Solar power company representatives touted the proposal this week as a money-saver and revenue generator.

Palmer Regional and Rostraver airports could be the sites of a $28 million to $30 million solar installation that has the capability to generate close to 6.8 million kilowatt hours of power for Palmer and a solar power farm at the Rostraver Airport.

Power produced at the Rostraver site would go only to the power transmission grid.

The projections were offered to the Westmoreland County Airport Authority Tuesday by Corey Harper, airport business developer for Venergy Group LLC.

Airport authority members said they would consider at the board’s March 10 meeting whether to sign a letter of intent with Venergy Group to continue developing the program. That consent would cost the authority 1% of the project — about $300,000 to $360,000 for the more expansive version — if the authority later drops the plan.

That solar panel array would cover about 650 parking spaces at Palmer Regional and generate 100% of the power for the airport, Harper said.

A scaled-down version would generate about 5.2 million kilowatt hours of power and cost up to $20 million to place panels above 250 short-term parking spots at Palmer Regional and ground-mounted panels at the Rostraver installation adjacent to the runway. That 20-acre section of authority property lies in Allegheny County.

Venergy projects that the larger solar power array would save the airport au- thority $1.7 million by reducing the need to buy power. Even with the solar panels producing power, the airport would not disconnect from West Penn Power’s electric lines, Harper said.

Solar at other sites

While the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia international airports have solar projects, there are none in regional airports the size of Palmer Regional, Harper said. The company is in discussions with about five other airports in the state, but he declined to identify them.

One of those is the John Murtha Johnstown Cambria County Airport in Richland Township, which is considering a solar power project from Venergy to offset the airport’s electricity costs, said Cory Cree, airport manager. No decision has been made on that proposed solar project, Cree said.

Harper said the company has been involved in 68 solar power projects at airports across the nation.

Venergy wants the authority to sign a letter of intent to proceed, Harper said.

Venergy needs a contract with the authority by June in order to prepare the design, seek government approvals and contract for construction to have it producing power by 2027. That is the deadline for obtaining solar power tax credits from the federal government, which can be worth up to half the cost of the project.

The tax credits could be used to help pay for the project because some airlines might be willing to buy them to offset carbon emissions from burning jet fuel, Harper said.

Paul Whittaker, airport authority chairman, said he is interested in the project. The cost for continuing development would be included in the total price if the authority proceeds.

The authority needs a month to consider the project and the costs before it signs a letter of intent, said Ed Kilkeary, airport authority member.

Vince Finoli, board member, said he would be in favor of signing a letter of intent only if there is funding available to cover the 1% fee.

Authority members also were concerned about the total cost of a $30 million project. That larger scale project would require the authority to issue bonds worth some $30 million, and the authority does not know if it could borrow that much money, Finoli said.

“Our big concern is where are we going to get that money,” Kilkeary said.