- US Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations has awarded the Mineral Basin Solar Project, led by Mineral Basin Solar Power, LLC.
- According to previous reports, Mineral Basin Solar is a 402 MWac project sited on reclaimed coal mine sites in Girard Township, making it the largest solar facility in Pennsylvania.
US Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations has awarded the Mineral Basin Solar Project, led by Mineral Basin Solar Power, LLC, more than $2 million (of the total project federal cost share of up to $90 million) to begin Phase 1 activities.
Mineral Basin plans to develop 401 MW of solar photovoltaic (solar PV) generation on a site formerly used for subsurface coal mining in Clearfield County. This project can potentially be the largest solar farm in Pennsylvania to date. It could produce enough clean energy to power more than 70,000 homes, increasing regional access to clean energy.
According to previous reports, Mineral Basin Solar is a 402 MWac project sited on reclaimed coal mine sites in Girard Township. It is the largest solar facility in Pennsylvania and one of the largest solar facilities in the United States to be sited on former mine land. Construction of the project was projected to begin as soon as summer 2024, and it was scheduled to be online by the second half of 2026. Once operational, Swift Current will remain the long-term owner and operator of the solar plant.
According to previously published reports, the construction of Mineral Basin Solar will create more than 750 direct full-time construction jobs and six operations jobs. Additionally, Mineral Basin Solar will contribute millions of dollars of tax revenue—about $1.1 million—into Goshen and Girard townships, Clearfield County, and the Clearfield Area School District, as well as direct community benefits programs.
The greenhouse gas emissions avoided due to this solar project will be equivalent to removing 110,000 gas-powered cars from the road each year.
During Phase 1, which is expected to last three months, Mineral Basin intends to carry out project planning, refine budgets and schedules, prepare for permitting, and conduct community benefits planning.