CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - A solar generating project in southern West Virginia has cleared a key hurdle.
The Public Service Commission on Monday issued a final order granting Raleigh Solar a certificate for the construction and operation of a 90-megawatt generating facility in Raleigh County. The commission said it’s the first such certificate issued in West Virginia.
According to the commission, the project will consist of about 250,000 individual panels and will be located on 529 acres (214 hectares) of primarily undeveloped, wooded ridge tops. It’s expected to cost about $90 million.
The project was made possible after the Legislature passed a bill for an expedited siting certificate process for solar projects. The state commerce department pushed for the bill, saying big companies want to know that they can use renewable energy sources before relocating to a state.
Under the commission’s approval, Raleigh Solar must start construction within five years and have the project finished within 10 years.
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