Sep. 10—MORGANTOWN — The Monongalia County Commission on Wednesday approved a purchase power agreement with West Virginia-based Solar Holler for a solar facility to be placed atop the Monongalia County Center in Mylan Park.
Instead of investing in its own solar hardware, the agreement for the solar photovoltaic generation facility allows the placement of the equipment for no up-front cost to the commission.
The county will then purchase the power generated from Solar Holler for 0.7 cents per kilowatt.
“That can only increase by 1.9 % per year, where the average electricity rates have been increasing by about 3 %, ” Commissioner Sean Sikora said. “So, we’ll be able to save on, one, being able to cap our rates, and two, being able to actually sell back the electricity that’s generated to the electric company and get a credit on our invoice.”
It’s anticipated that the county will save approximately $35, 000 in Year 1 of the 25-year agreement. The contract includes the option for a 10-year extension.
“All the equipment and the maintenance of the equipment and all that is all on the vendor. We will just utilize the power and pay them a set rate, ” Sikora said.
Mon County Center Director Rachel Mitchell brought the project to the commission for consideration about a year ago.
She said construction of the system likely won’t begin until 2027.
“One of the largest expenses that we have at the center is just overhead utilities. Seeing an opportunity to reduce that cost at the facility is great, especially over the long term, ” Mitchell said. “Solar Holler, our chosen vendor, will be working on the financing, procuring that equipment throughout the next year, and then hopefully we’ll see some developments out at the Mon County Center at Mylan Park here soon.”
The Monongalia County Center is a roughly 32, 000 square-foot, county-owned agriculture tourism facility that’s home to the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, the Monongalia County Extension Office, central offices for the county parks department and the Community Food Innovation Center, which is a West Virginia Department of Agriculture Certified Food Manufacturing Facility.
In other county news, the commission approved up to $30, 000 to address ongoing issues with the Blacksville sewer system.
It was explained that the funds will be used to address “immediate, band-aid fixes, overdue obligations and assist in putting a plan together for the overall rehabilitation of the entire system.”
In late August, the commission learned the town owes the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection about $26, 000 in unpaid fines that must be addressed before it could approach the state about potential grants for system upgrades.
As for those band-aids, “I think the tanks needing pumped is the primary emergency right now.” Commission President Jeff Arnett said.
Lastly, the commission approved intergovernmental agreements with the municipalities to provide dog warden services from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2026.
The charges are based on the number of calls each had over the previous year multiplied by $166.03 — a rate that climbs 3 % annually.
Morgantown had 269 calls and will pay $44, 662.07. Granville had 33 calls ($5, 478.99); Star City had 22 calls ($3, 652.66) and Westover had 36 calls ($5, 977.48).