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Centre County approves Phase 3 solar service agreement to offset Willowbank electricity costs
Summary
The Board of Commissioners approved a Phase 3 Solar Energy Power Service Agreement with Centre County Solar Partners Phase 3, LLC to build a solar generation system sited at the county correctional facility, with annual service payments for years 1–5 and an option to purchase; county officials said it will produce savings beginning year one.
The Centre County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on June 9 to approve a Solar Energy Power Service Agreement with Centre County Solar Partners Phase 3, LLC to construct, operate and maintain an on‑site solar electric generation system at the Centre County Correctional Facility intended to offset electricity used at the Willowbank Office Building.
Administrator John Franek Jr. told the Board the agreement includes annual service payments between $129,000 and $136,916 for years one through five, an early termination fee of $1,350,890 in year six, and a county option to purchase the system after installation. Franek said the county expects savings starting in year one and cited more than $5 million in initial savings projected over the life of the arrangement; that savings figure was presented by county staff as an estimate rather than a finalized guarantee.
The Board approved the agreement by motion (mover: Commissioner Amber Concepcion; second: Commissioner Steven Dershem) and voted unanimously to adopt the contract and revise the budget to accommodate the lease payments. No public objections or technical disputes were recorded in the minutes.
The agreement was presented as a Facilities Management item (Dept. 161). County materials note that the contract price does not include an advance contract service payment and that service payments commence on the commercial operation date. The agreement as recorded in the minutes does not specify a detailed construction schedule or the exact installed capacity unit beyond the agenda language; county staff are the implementing party and will carry the project forward to commercial operation.
Next steps: the county will proceed under the terms in the agreement toward commercial operation and revised budget implementation; meeting minutes record no additional procedural conditions or external approvals in the public session.
