Oregon Dairy Solar Farm<\/strong> How do orphans in Africa, a local grocery store and the power of the sun relate?<\/strong><\/p>\n The answer is with Oregon Dairy\u2019s new PV solar system which was officially turned on and generating power as of March 31, 2011.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do the orphans play into this story?\u201d you might ask.<\/p>\n Horizon Energy, LLC, a non-profit organization in Lancaster PA, was the lead developer on the solar project. Horizon Energy is an energy services and solar development company, formed by a group of venture capitalists with a big heart for orphans. Their profits go directly towards developing micro communities in Africa; the communities generally consist of an orphanage, school, farm, medical clinic and in some cases micro businesses. Horizon Energy partners with local individuals to aid the community in becoming economically self sufficient. Board Chairman & CEO Daryl Heller comments, \u201cWe are Venture Capitalists generating wealth to empower the poor.\u201d<\/p>\n Horizon Energy, LLC hired Ephrata based company MVE Solar to design and install the solar system at Oregon Dairy.<\/p>\n Oregon Dairy is a family friendly supermarket, restaurant, gift shoppe and bakery \u2013 all on a real working Lancaster County PA farm. They are committed to exploring and utilizing all forms of renewable energy which make sense to them, the community and the world.<\/p>\n Co-owner of Oregon Dairy, Vic Hurst, understands that solar makes sense. Hurst states, \u201cIt simply makes sense to utilize the empty space of available roof tops to generate electricity right at the point of consumption. By doing so we reduce the need for additional generation and transmission infrastructure, lessen our overall dependence on more costly methods of electrical production, and take advantage of readily available and proven technologies. Solar is quite possibly the most viable existing option when it comes to meeting those criteria. Because of our long term relationship with MVE and their repeated demonstration of performing to our expectations, they were our preferred install contractor.\u201d<\/p>\n Oregon Dairy is the first solar system of its size in Manheim Township and now as of 2020, it is the 4th largest in Manheim Township. There are currently 162 solar arrays installed in Manheim Township all under the size of 15 KW, and a few larger projects are in the works. Oregon Dairy\u2019s solar system totals 220.85 KW. This means it will produce approximately 264,516 kWh annually, which is about the equivalent of powering 30 average sized homes per year.<\/p>\n Manheim Township Commissioners were extremely pleased with the project. Andrew Bowman, Construction Code Official for Manheim Township stated, \u201cWorking through the building permit and inspection process with MVE Solar is proof that a fully compliant PV system can be installed successfully with minimal municipal interference. The proactive attitude of both the MVE Solar office and field staff made issuing the building permit and inspecting the PV system easy. This was a professional installation by a group of dedicated PV professionals.\u201d<\/p>\n You can view before and after photos of the solar project on MVE Solar\u2019s website: www.mvesolar.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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