Lebanon Solar Project

When you think “National Guard,” it’s unlikely that your mind jumps to butterfly conservation. But at Fort Indiantown Gap here in Lebanon County, some 1,000 regal fritillary butterflies call 300 acres of grasslands home – they are the last population of regals left in the eastern US. Hopefully, this won’t be true for long: conservationists are preparing to reintroduce regals throughout the Commonwealth. 🦋

Rare Butterfly Thrives at National Guard Training Center Nestled inside the 18,000 acres of Fort Indiantown Gap — a Pennsylvania Army National Guard training center in Lebanon County — are almost 300 acres of grasslands set aside for

By providing new tax revenue – funds that support public schools, libraries, roads, first responders, and more – solar developments help communities plant seeds for a stronger future.

In July, and all year long, America’s spirit of ingenuity is something to celebrate. Our clean power sector is increasing output, powering job growth, and investing in manufacturing. Learn more: energy.gov/articles/5-clean-energy-facts-will-make-you-usa-proud

5 Clean Energy Facts That Will Make You USA Proud As you celebrate this Independence Day, here are five clean energy facts to make you proud of America’s role in building a sustainable, equitable future for all.

Solar development is a temporary and reversible use of land. Of all the potential uses on undeveloped or agricultural land, solar is among the least disruptive and prevents other types of development that can be more troublesome and more permanent. After the project’s useful life ends and the equipment is removed, the land is restored to its original condition. Plus, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, less than 1 percent of United States’ land would need to be fitted with solar to meet the whole nation’s energy needs, making solar a practical form of development that’s compatible with land conservation.

Solar is on a roll! Solar installations accounted for more than half of all new power added to the US grid in the first three months of this year. What’s more, solar is expected to grow exponentially, tripling in size over the next 5 years. Read more takeaways from the US Solar Market Insight Q2 2023 report:

The United States has best first quarter in history for total solar panels installed The record quarter was driven in large part by supply chain challenges abating and delayed solar projects moving forward.

We hope you’re hungry! This year’s Lebanon Area Fair will feature a Lebanon Bologna sandwich that’s nearly as long as the steeple on Independence Hall is tall. Learn more about the record-breaking snack and this year’s fair:

Bologna sandwich the length of a building to be featured at the Lebanon Area Fair Visit Lebanon Valley and local businesses will attempt to create the world's largest Lebanon bologna sandwich.

The solar industry provides good jobs with competitive wages to Americans of all kinds, particularly those who have valiantly served our nation. Nearly 9% of all solar workers are veterans, compared to the national average of 6%. We’re proud to be part of an industry that provides opportunities for veterans to continue serving their communities here at home.

Land of the free, because of the brave. Happy Fourth of July! 🇺🇸

American solar manufacturing is on the road to massive growth, and that’s great news for the American economy. Domestic manufacturing brings long-term investment to American communities and creates career opportunities along the way. As an engine for industry innovation, Enel North America's renewable energy business, Enel Green Power, is leading the charge to bring PV manufacturing to American soil: we recently announced plans to build a solar panel manufacturing facility that is expected to be among the first in the United States to produce solar cells. See more takeaways from the American Clean Power Association 2022 Annual Market Report: cleanpower.org/market-report-2022/

The work pollinators do isn’t always easy to see, but their impact on our ecosystem is immeasurable all the same. Like pollinators, solar panels work quietly to provide us with a resource we all use – energy. Solar panels produce no emissions while they are operational, creating a better environment for flora and fauna to thrive. In the spirit of enriching your local ecosystem, here are some pollinator-supporting, native plants you can incorporate into your garden:

Planting for Pollinators – Positively Pennsylvania How native plants in your garden or around your home can benefit pollinator populations, the environment, and agriculture.

We are wishing all fathers and father figures a special and sunny Father’s Day. ☀️

The renewable power industry is ushering in a new era of American solar manufacturing, and Enel North America is emerging as a leader in bolstering American manufacturing capabilities. Last year, we announced plans to build a solar manufacturing facility that would be among the first in the nation to manufacture solar cells. Our American-made solar future is one step closer to fruition now that a location has been selected. The project is expected to directly create around 1,000 American manufacturing jobs and help provide supply-chain stability to the solar industry.

Enel chooses Oklahoma as home of first US solar panel factory The $1 billion-plus factory will be located at the Tulsa Port of Inola, giving it easy access to rail and river transport.

There are lots of exciting ways to take advantage of the summer sun, and many of them can help provide a hands-on learning opportunity for students who are on break for the season. Take a look at this list of solar-powered summer activity ideas:

Heat up Your Summer with Solar Science | Science Buddies Blog Bright summer light is perfect for exploring solar energy. Science Buddies' kid-friendly science project ideas make it fun and easy!

Have you ever tried your hand at companion planting in your garden? Here are some tips from Lancaster Farming for planning a garden full of plants that help each other thrive:

Companion Planting Guide for Greater Garden Success Planting different vegetable crops and flowers next to each other invites biodiversity and other benefits.

Solar doesn’t just provide power – when a community hosts a solar project, it’s an investment in their future, too. Solar projects bring a boost to host communities in the form of jobs, tax revenue, landowner payments, and they add more cost-effective power to the grid. Let us know your reasons for supporting solar power in the comments!

In memory of some, in honor of all. We hope you have a meaningful Memorial Day.

Renewables aren’t just the power of the future – they’re the power of the present, too. Over the first two months of this year, America’s wind and solar projects out-produced coal plants. Learn more:

Electricity from solar and wind surpasses coal generation in first two months of 2023 According to data from the U.S. federal government, solar and wind now provide more electricity in the United States than coal. The latest issue of the

Clean power development is an era of remarkable growth, and thriving a clean power sector means the creation of good-paying, fulfilling work in communities in the Keystone State and all across the nation. Solar PV installer is one of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Top 20 Fastest-Growing Occupations, with a projected growth rate of 27% through 2031.

Thank you, moms and mother figures, for all you do to build a brighter future for the next generation. We hope you have a lovely !

The power grid of the future will consist of a variety of generation sources, including solar, just as it does today. Renewables support up to one third of the American power grid at their most productive times of year — typically the spring and fall. Last year, renewables outproduced coal for a total of 169 days. Read more about how clean energy is powering America’s homes and businesses:

Charts: See when renewables provide more than 20% of power in the US Solar, wind and hydropower fluctuate seasonally. At some times of the year, they're now providing as much as a third of electricity to the U.S. grid.

Road names may shift and buildings may change hands, but Lebanon County’s sense of community outlasts anything that can be plotted on a scrap of paper. What did Lebanon County look like 163 years ago? To find out, you can check out this map of the county that dates all the way back to 1860 – you can get a closer look at the details by loading the high-resolution image viewer at the bottom of the page:

What can you find in this 1860 map of Lebanon County? Last week, the Cornwall Iron Furnace drew our attention to an 1860 map of Lebanon County available through the Library of Congress.

While no type of energy generation is completely free of any environmental impact, solar energy has a much lower overall impact than traditional energy sources. Unlike these sources, solar panels produce no emissions while they are operational, creating a better environment for flora and fauna to thrive.

Interested in getting a start on your garden but not ready to tackle the yard work? 🌱 Sprout your seeds indoors with this handy guide:

Everything You Need to Know About Getting Your Garden Seeds Started Indoors Starting your own garden seeds is a great way to get a jump on the growing season. Here's everything you'll need to start growing your seeds indoors.

Building a more sustainable world and bringing about our electrified future takes a village – and together, we can make every day . Thank you for being a part of our community. 🌎

Supporting American manufacturing isn’t just good business – it’s good for the environment, too. U.S.-based production of solar panels is a fast-growing industry, and Enel North America's renewable energy business, Enel Green Power , is at the forefront of innovation. We recently announced plans to build a solar panel manufacturing facility that is expected to be among the first in the United States to produce solar cells and estimated to directly create over 1500 jobs by 2025. Learn more about the impacts of supporting American industry:

Made-in-the-USA solar panels could cut emissions by 30%, says study Reshoring crystalline silicon PV panel manufacturing to the United States by 2035 could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30% and energy consumption by 13% from 2020 levels, according to scientists f…

Solar projects provide exciting benefits to the communities they’re a part of. SHARE if you support private property rights, job creation, and new local revenue – all powered by the sun. ☀️

Did you know that a solar panel will generate the equivalent of the energy it consumes over its lifetime within as little as a few months? Solar panels are designed to last 25 years or longer, and according to the National Society of Professional Engineers, a panel’s total carbon footprint is offset within 6 months to 2 years of its operation. As electrification transforms more industries, such as transportation and manufacturing, the residual carbon footprint of solar power will shrink even further. Read more FAQs here: bit.ly/3Ri879q

You’ve tried classic maple syrup, but here in Central PA, black walnut syrup can be a tasty alternative. Read more about the black walnut syrup production process:

Flavorful Black Walnut Syrup Is Worth the Work While most people enjoy maple syrup, walnut syrup can be a tasty way to enhance flavors in baking, alcohol and, yes, even pancakes.

2022 was a banner year for Enel North America and our project communities. Our renewable energy business, Enel Green Power North America, built almost 2 GW of new renewable power last year. Over their lifetimes, these projects will deliver an additional $200+ million in property taxes to host communities and more than $210 million in landowner payments. See more highlights from last year:

Enel adds nearly 2 GW of Renewable Capacity in US and Canada in 2022 Enel built 1.98 GW of new wind, solar and storage capacity in the US and Canada in 2022, signed 12 PPAs and entered new business areas, including plans to build a large-scale solar manufacturing facility.

marks the 50th birthday of National Ag Day. In the spirit of longevity and sustainability, this year’s theme is Growing a Climate for Tomorrow. Today and every day, we’re thankful for the growers who supply our communities with food and fuel while dutifully stewarding the land. Learn more at agday.org.

As tax-paying entities, utility-scale solar projects help to increase the funds available for essential public services, like roads, libraries, first responders, and schools in the communities that host them. Solar projects are an investment in our energy security, but even more importantly, they are a resource that supports our communities’ futures.

Sustainability is a holistic philosophy that encompasses much more than renewable energy. Check out Enel North America's renewable energy business, Enel Green Power’s partnership initiative with Lions Clubs International from 2022. We can't wait to see what the years ahead have in store for us: http://bit.ly/3YOZarv

One of the many ways Enel North America’s renewable energy business Enel Green Power invests in the long-term sustainability of communities that host a project is through the Creating Shared Value Model. Often, the programs and projects that benefit from this investment have an educational mission. Last year, we were proud to invest more than a million dollars in educational efforts alone, benefiting over 26,000 people across scores of communities.

You butter believe it! The butter sculpture from the 2023 Pennsylvania Farm Show had a second life this year; after the completion of the event, the installation’s materials were broken down with other food waste in a methane digester. Learn more:

Pennsylvania Farm Show butter sculpture turned into renewable energy HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — The butter sculpture from the 2023 Pennsylvania Farm Show has been officially dismantled, and taken to Juniata County where it will be used as a renewable energy sour…

The Lebanon Solar Project represents a multimillion-dollar investment in Lebanon County, increasing tax revenues to local schools and public services, and creating jobs and economic stimulus during construction.

What's in it for a rural community when a renewable project comes to town?

✔️ Tax payments
✔️ Land lease payments
✔️ Construction wages
✔️ Operation and maintenances wages
✔️ Indirect jobs for manufacturers and suppliers
✔️ Boost for local restaurants, hardware stores, hotels, and more!

Counties throughout America are already realizing the economic development benefits of clean power projects. Learn more about how clean energy is benefiting rural communities in the Seeds of Opportunity report from RMI :

Seeds of Opportunity - RMI Rural communities can strengthen and diversify their local economies by actively engaging in the ongoing renewable energy transition.

Some of the most common questions neighbors have about a solar project are related to whether solar poses health or environmental risks. Fortunately, solar panels are built from insoluble materials that are enclosed in a solid matrix, so they do not pose a threat to health or safety. Peer-reviewed, academic research from trusted institutions supports the safety of solar technology, but these findings are often not as prevalent as the inaccurate claims that garner attention on social media:

“There’s been a challenge. The outcomes of these studies are not as well known as the initial fears or the initial concerns that people have.” - Jordan Macknick, lead energy-water-land analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory .

Read more about how science is debunking solar energy concerns:

Fears of Harm from Solar Panels Disproven by Science Solar energy is on the rise in Pennsylvania. Fears of toxic metals and higher temperatures from solar panels have been disproven by science.

At Enel, we are dedicated to making our business model as sustainable as it can be – and we don’t stop with renewable energy. We use the concept of the circular economy to reimagine our projects, limiting their footprint and unleashing new benefits.

By repurposing tarps used in wind project construction into backpacks and planning to recycle, reuse, or refurbish each solar panel our projects use, we are leading the shift to a circular economy. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3CnxmBU

“Each aspect of their farm has been rooted in sustainable practices such as rainwater conservation and solar power.”

Read about the Pennsylvania healthcare workers who are also running a sustainable farm that prioritizes getting local products from the farm to the table:

Saving Lives in Health Care While Saving the Planet Through Sustainable Flower Farming Hickory View Farms works year round to produce fresh cut flowers and holiday wreaths and décor through sustainable farming.

The Lebanon Solar Project’s owner Enel Green Power is experienced in developing projects that add value to their host communities that will last beyond the project’s lifetime. Keep reading to explore programs that Enel has been a part of in project areas all over the country:

Creating long-term shared value for our communities in North America Making a positive impact in the communities where we operate and creating shared value is key to the success of our renewable projects at Enel Green Power. Listen to the voices of North America through this collection of videos that showcase our investment and commitment to making the community a be...