HARRINGTON — Kent County will soon be home to more energy options as Chaberton Energy and Pivot Energy work to develop two new community solar projects – one in Harrington and one in Magnolia.

The two companies joined forces with local leaders last week to break ground at Project Crestone in Harrington, signifying the start of their Delaware-based projects as developer Chaberton Energy celebrated with new solar farm owner and producer Pivot Energy.

“This project [in Harrington] originated about four and a half years ago in a really beautiful area. You have the water right there and a beautiful agricultural area,” Chaberton Chief Commercial and Sustainability Officer Erica Brinker told the Delaware Business Times. “And what’s so great about this project in particular is that it’s an agrivoltaics project, meaning the solar farm and agriculture will be able to operate concurrently.”

A pollinator garden will rest near the solar panels which are only feet off the ground while sheep graze along the 25 acres farming area to be occupied in part by the new solar farm.

“What so many family-based landowners find is that this [solar farms] helps keep their land in the family. In this case, it’s three sisters who own the farmland and it was the wish of their father to keep it in the family. Now it can be a dual-use to help provide additional revenue while also reducing costs for neighbors through solar energy. It’s a win-win,” Brinker said.

While the up-and-coming community-based project will rest on the 25-acre property, it will only utilize a portion of that area while maintaining some easement space for trees and natural grasses.

That project will generate 5.7 megawatts of clean energy for the area which could support up to 500 homes through a subscription in partnership with Delmarva Power. Customers may find relief in subscribing to the new energy option after receiving an email from Delmarva Power today warning of possible utility bill increases of up to 3% as the winter months approach.

The new community solar project in Magnolia, called Blackburn, rests on 20 acres of land and is expected to generate 4.2 megawatts of clean energy which could benefit up to 400 homes. Both projects are expected to start generating power in 2025 saving subscribers an average of 10% on their electricity bills.

“Pivot Energy applauds Delaware for its leadership in making a significant commitment to develop clean solar energy sources within its communities,”  Pivot Energy Vice President of Revenue Operations Kelly Hadayia said in the press release. “We are proud to help bring cost-savings to Kent County residents while advancing Delaware’s clean energy goals.” 

As Delaware is working to address how the state can generate and buy clean energy, state officials set a renewable energy portfolio standard of utilities receiving 25% of its power from renewable sources by 2026. That minimum standard will be raised by 40% in 2035, pushing utility companies to tap into projects like these in Kent County and for energy companies to invest in solar farms and other options.

“We are proud of Delaware’s emerging role in the clean energy transition,” State Senator Stephanie Hansen said in a press release. Hansen has been working in the past years on several clean energy initiatives, including the bill that raised the renewable energy mandate to 40%.

“Our ability to use distributed energy resources can help our farmers, take pressure off the power grid, and help Delawareans at all economic levels save money on their power bills,” she said.

Chaberton representatives also took the time during the ceremony to present $10,000 donation checks to both the Lake Forest High School FFA and the Delaware Chapter of the Sierra Club through its charitable arm Chaberton Cares.