The project will infuse approximately $26 million into Hardy County over the 35-year lifespan of the proposed agreements, providing funds to the county and schools. Old Fields Solar & Storage also will generate local economic opportunities by creating short-term (construction) and long-term (maintenance and operational) jobs, as well as positive ripple effects in other jobs and businesses supported through spending and purchases by project workers at local businesses, shops, restaurants and hotels.MN8 believes it is important to be a valuable member of the community that extends beyond the financial assets. As the project moves forward, the team will work closely to identify opportunities to become involved in, such as with education and community-based organizations.

The power from Old Fields Solar & Storage will be feed into the transmission line that provides electricity directly to the substation located in Moorefield, powering the surrounding area. There are no large-scale generators operational in Hardy County today, requiring that it import power from neighboring counties, including over the transmission line that this project will now be interconnecting to. The energy from this project will be a vital source of local energy, helping to meet both the electricity needs of Hardy County and supporting the broader electricity needs of the regional grid.

The project will be sited on privately-owned land in the Old Fields Solar & Storage region generating approximately 1 MW of energy per 5 to 7 acres of solar, and is expected to utilize roughly 900 acres of leased property, of which only 250 acres will be used for panels. Those acres will be fenced in with wildlife-friendly fencing and will incorporate a vegetative buffer to minimize the visual impact to neighboring properties.

The site selected for the Old Fields Solar & Storage Project is in close proximity to a Potomac Edison 138 kV transmission line, which will transport power to the nearest source of demand. The site is also relatively flat with good solar production, allowing for solar to be an advantageous source of power to incorporate into the local transmission grid.

Old Fields Solar & Storage anticipates submitting an application with the Public Service Commission (PSC) of West Virginia in mid 2027. The permitting process takes approximately one-year to complete, so we anticipate receiving a decision from the PSC early 2028. Pending final site plans, construction may begin in late 2028 with commercial operations to begin in 2030.

Construction will take approximately 12-18 months from start to commercial operations.

Construction typically occurs between 7am – 7pm throughout the work week.

Safety is paramount. MN8 recognizes construction projects add traffic to roads and highways. The project will follow all state, local and federal laws and regulations related to transportation. Additionally, the team will meet with local officials, such as the county sheriff’s office and the board of education, to understand traffic patterns, as well as bus routes and schedules, in order to approach construction in a fashion that mitigates impacts.

MN8 is committed to environmental and wildlife protection in the project area.Environmental experts have been conducting site-specific studies to understand and to ensure the protection of both wildlife and the environment. This work includes performing wetland and stream studies, avian surveys, cultural and archaeological surveys, and environmental site assessments. The results of this data are used in engineering design to avoid and minimize impacts to such resources.The project will comply with applicable state and federal wildlife regulations, including requirements of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources. The United States Army Corps of Engineers and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection have oversight for water resource permits and approvals prior to the start of construction. For cultural and archaeological protections, the project is consulting with the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office and will initiate practices deemed appropriate for the project.The project design will incorporate agricultural fencing, which will allow smaller animals, such as rabbits and reptiles to move freely through the project footprint. In addition, the project will be comprised of a number of different segments, all of which will have 150-foot setbacks, creating corridors over which larger wildlife can safely navigate through and around the project footprint.

Although there will be a need to use experienced regional and national contractors during the multi-phased project, the company does prefer to hire locally as much as possible. Employees who reside in the area will be more inclined to stay in the community long-term. This provides added benefit to both the community and the project. To this end, the project will advertise for positions locally when hiring begins.

Phase 1 - Development This phase is currently underway. The team is conducting numerous site-specific surveys, including geotechnical surveys, boundary surveys, and numerous environmental and engineering studies to further the project’s development. Much of this work is being done by regional civil engineering and environmental firms. The project is also working with a wide array of local and state entities to prepare for construction, working towards necessary permits and approvals.Phase 2 - ConstructionOnce this phase begins, an engineering procurement contractor will hire local and regional skilled contractors to staff positions based on need and availability during construction. This work involves a variety of different stages, including site preparations, pre-planting of vegetation, installing solar components, and final site landscaping and cleanup.Phase 3 - OperationThese positions will require skills in electrical, electronics and computers, as well as land maintenance, to ensure the project and the property are well maintained. The project will also seek to work with local farmers on agricultural elements of this dual-use project, including but not limited to sheep grazing.

Even on a cloudy day, solar panels can produce meaningful amounts of electricity. Advanced tracking systems also enable solar panels to follow the sun throughout the day and maximize the amount of electricity generated. Solar generation is part of a broader generation fleet that power the regional grid and compliment each other – for example, solar production is often very high when temperatures are elevated, providing critical power during these periods of system stress when demand is high and traditional thermal generators cannot run at their full capacity and often experience outages. On the other hand, solar production is lower when it’s cloudy, but lower temperatures during these periods often mean lower system demand, and that other generators can often produce more power at these times.

As the project moves closer to the construction phase, MN8 will promote the job application process through multiple methods, including the project website and Facebook page, as well as local information sources. Once the project is ready to accept applications, the information will be provided on how and where to apply through these channels.