With news that the Supreme Court had placed the EPA’s Clean Power Plan on hold earlier this month, it was seen as a setback to efforts to move away from fossil fuels to cleaner forms of energy. However, utility executives across the U.S. plan to continue to embrace sustainable energy practices, whether the Clean Power Plan is eventually upheld or not.
An informal survey of big utilities by SNL Energy, found that “planning for a lower carbon future will continue regardless of the Supreme Court’s recent stay of the rule.”
This transition is being seen locally, as the Northampton Board of Supervisors met with Hecate Solar during this Monday’s work session to gather more details about the 185 acre, 20 MW solar farm (Cherrydale Solar Project) proposed for 15446 Seaside Road. The Cherrydale Solar Project will be the first utility-scale solar project in Northampton County. If the process stays on track, construction could start this spring, with production operations beginning early winter. The Cherrydale Project falls in line with the State’s initiative to build more low cost competitive renewable power facilities.
The estimated construction timeline is 6-8 months, and may employ up to 50 people.
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