Construction on Holcim Hagerstown solar project expected to begin before end 2019

Construction on the 10MW solar project for LafargeHolcim-owned Holcim US Inc’s Hagerstown plant could commence before the end of the year, according to a project official.

The Washington County Planning Commission approved the site plan, giving staff the authority to grant final approval once the last agency review is obtained. Pending final permit approvals, work is expected to start before the end of the year, according to Tom Dodson, CEO of i1Energy, the project’s general contractor.

The solar project represents an investment of US$18m, said Justin Fike, owner of Aperture Power, which is working for Greenbacker Renewable Energy Corp. Greenbacker bought the rights to the solar power project from NRG Energy last February.

The project would be built on 28.3ha of Holcim’s 74ha site. The solar park is bordered by Antietam Creek in the north and the CSX rail road to the east. The solar facility would be divided into six sections, each surrounded by a 1.8m fence, and in total consist of 35,775 solar panels with a maximum height of around 3m.