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Cumberland County pauses vote on solar developer after conflict disclosure
Summary
County staff recommended awarding a county-property solar project to Greenworks/SRE under a power purchase agreement; a commissioner disclosed a professional relationship with an investor in the recommended firm, the motion to select the firm was made and seconded but was rescinded and no award was finalized.
Cumberland County staff presented findings from a multi-year feasibility and request-for-proposal (RFP) process and recommended selecting Greenworks/Solar Renewable Energy (SRE) to develop solar facilities on county-owned property. Commissioners did not complete an award after a conflict disclosure; a motion to select the recommended developer was rescinded and no contract was authorized.
Planning staff recounted the county's steps since adopting its first climate action plan in January 2022 and subsequent feasibility work by Wilson Engineering Services. Staff said the RFP process (opened in September and closed in November) produced 10 responses, a short list of five firms, and interviews with three finalists. "The staff recommendation would be to work with GreenWorks and SRA," a staff member said, noting Greenworks' portfolio experience in Pennsylvania and conservative financial projections.
Staff described the proposed business model as a power purchase agreement (PPA) in which the developer builds and maintains the system and sells power to the county, requiring no upfront county capital. "...a power purchase agreement...from the county standpoint, there's no upfront costs that we put into it," staff said. Project timing depends in part on the utility interconnection queue; staff estimated approximately 18 months to construction after interconnection work is complete, subject to PPL scheduling and interconnection costs.
At the meeting a commissioner made a motion "to select Greenworks solar renewable for solar energy facilities on county owned property." Another commissioner then disclosed a professional relationship with a principal investor at SRE, saying, "I'm going to state on this because I have a professional relationship with 1 of the principal investors at SRA." Following discussion, the motion was rescinded and the item was left without a formal award. Staff said they would consult the county solicitor about the disclosure and next steps.
Clarifying details discussed at the meeting included references to the county's January 2022 climate action plan, Wilson Engineering Services' feasibility work (June 2024 analysis and other reports), and staff estimates that an appropriate solar system could offset between 100% and 128% of county energy usage depending on system size and location — figures to be finalized during negotiation and interconnection studies. Staff also noted current county electricity cost figures used in analysis for comparison to proposed PPA rates.
Ending: Commissioners did not finalize a selection; staff will engage the county solicitor for guidance on the disclosed relationship and return with recommended next steps before any contract award or authorization to negotiate is completed.
