Three Key Facts:
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- The Goonies Solar Project will generate enough clean, renewable energy to power 23,000 homes in and around Lycoming County.
- The project will create some 200 construction jobs and another 150 permanent positions.
- The project spans 1,000 acres, including a natural buffer zone to minimize environmental disruption.
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Philadelphia-based Doral Renewables is investing $250 million to create one of the largest solar farms in Pennsylvania – the Goonies Solar Project – in Lycoming County. The large-scale solar farm – named after the rocks that farmers discard from fields – will create 200 to 250 construction jobs and another 150 permanent jobs for Central Pennsylvania.
Once operating, it will produce enough power to serve 23,000 homes.
Joe Biden’s clean energy plan is driving more than $3 billion in public and private investments like Goonies Solar. In addition to financial incentives such as tax credits, rebates, and loan programs for companies like Doral Renewables, the policies are creating a market for sustainable power.
Doral Solar is expected to supply local utilities, businesses, and industries seeking to source power directly from Lycoming County. The project is also attractive to large companies, like advanced manufacturers, seeking reliable power sources that produce less carbon pollution.
The state’s commitment to renewable and affordable energy will help make the region more attractive to new and existing businesses. “Pennsylvania is sending an economic message to companies to locate and expand businesses here. A modernized cleaner energy mix is now a competitive advantage,” said Nick Cohen, President and CEO of Doral Renewables.
Located on 1,000 acres of land in the Nippenose Valley, only 650 acres will be used as the solar field. The remaining land will be preserved as wetlands will serve as an environmental buffer. Construction on the Goonies Project is slated to begin in 2025.
Businesses are not the only ones to benefit from incentives from the IRA. If consumers claim all available subsidies offered by the IRA, they could save around $1,800 on their energy bill yearly, according to an analysis by Rewiring America, a national organization focused on electrification policy.
