CPV Brings Maryland’s Largest Solar Farm Online at Former Coal Mine
Competitive Power Ventures (CPV) has begun commercial operations at CPV Backbone Solar, a 160-megawatt (MW) solar farm built on a decommissioned coal mine in Garrett County, Maryland, marking the largest solar project currently operating in the state.
The facility includes approximately 324,000 solar panels and is designed to generate enough carbon-free electricity to power about 30,000 households. The project was developed by CPV Renewable Power, an affiliate of CPV, in partnership with investment firm Harrison Street Asset Management.
The site represents a major example of brownfield redevelopment, converting previously mined land into a utility-scale renewable energy asset. Construction of the project was completed by Vanguard Energy Partners, serving as the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor.
According to Sherman Knight, Chief Executive Officer of CPV, the Backbone Solar project reflects the company’s focus on supporting the energy transition through redevelopment of legacy fossil fuel sites. Geoffrey Fairclough, President of Vanguard Energy Partners, highlighted the technical complexity of the site and the collaborative effort required to deliver the project.
The $200 million investment includes plans for a second phase, Backbone Solar Part 2, which could increase total capacity to 175 MW. Development of the project began in 2022.
Founded in Maryland, CPV was acquired by OPC Energy in 2021 and has brought 6.8 gigawatts (GW) of natural gas, wind, and solar generation online across the United States since 2010.
Source: energytech.com
