Centre County approves 1-MW solar lease agreement expected to offset Willowbank power, budget revision approved

The Centre County Board of Commissioners on June 5 approved an agreement with Centre County Solar Partners Phase 3 LLC to construct and operate a roughly 1-megawatt solar array sited adjacent to the county correctional facility. County Administrator John told commissioners the system is intended to be virtual-net-metered to the Willowbank building (within the allowable two-mile radius) and is expected to offset that building’s electricity use.

John said the arrangement includes annual service payments during years one through five and an option for the county to purchase the system outright in year six. He described the project as producing positive cash flow from the first year and stated an initial anticipated savings of "over $5 million." Commissioners also approved revising the county budget to incorporate lease payments for the project. John said the county expects the array to come online in early 2028 and that taking advantage of current incentives is a driver for moving forward now.

During a press exchange, John clarified that phase three will be a separate facility sited near the existing array; virtual net metering will allow power from the new array to be credited to other county-owned facilities within two miles. The transcript contains a recorded exchange where a reporter asked whether projected savings were included in the budget; John said budget entries will be revised to reflect the lease structure and to lock in incentives. The motion passed by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the public transcript.