This Day in Henrico History: Oct. 3 – Henrico launches its first rooftop solar projects

On Oct. 3, 2019, Henrico County’s first rooftop solar projects were taking shape at Libbie Mill Library and the Mental Health and Developmental Services East Center, marking the county government’s first move into producing solar electricity for its own buildings.

Henrico partnered with Sun Tribe Solar under a power-purchase arrangement that required no upfront county investment in the systems. Sun Tribe would own, operate and maintain the equipment, while Henrico would purchase the electricity it generated at a rate below conventional grid power.

The two projects were substantial. The East Center at 3908 Nine Mile Road was designed with 680 panels and a 272-kilowatt system capable of supplying up to 100% of that building’s electricity. Henrico estimated it could save taxpayers more than $300,000 over 25 years. Libbie Mill Library’s system included more than 300 panels and 122 kilowatts of capacity, enough to provide roughly a quarter of the library’s electricity and save an estimated $150,000 over 25 years.

Henrico’s energy-management program dated to 2003 and already included conservation work and equipment upgrades. The rooftop installations represented a new phase: generating renewable power on county property. Both systems were completed later in 2019, establishing a model Henrico subsequently expanded to other government facilities.

Sources: VPM: https://www.vpm.org/news/2019-10-03/henrico-county-launches-solar-power-for-its-own-buildings/; Henrico County – East Center project: https://henrico.gov/projects/solar-photovoltaic-system-mhds-east-center/; Henrico County – Libbie Mill project: https://henrico.gov/projects/solar-photovoltaic-system-libbie-mill-library-roof/