Berkeley Springs propane company Blue Flame has grown rapidly in the last 15 years, expanding their service area and investing in a new storefront and showroom along Valley Road. High demand for clean-burning propane for construction and residential use has driven Blue Flame to add storage capacity, widen their customer base and become the leading propane provider in the tri-county area.
The roots of the family-owned company are in Berkeley Springs and reach back into the 1970s. Initially owned by the Bohrer family, the company passed into the hands of the Haldeman family in 1994. Blue Flame is a key part of the local economy as an employer, service provider and community-minded company.
Heather Haldeman, Business Manager at Blue Flame, said when she started thinking about adding solar panels to the company offices, it only seemed natural to choose another Berkeley Springs business – mtvSolar – to be the propane company’s solar installer.
“We’re both in the energy business. I’d much rather work with a local company and have that nearby connection. If you have an issue, they’re right up the road and they’re very responsive,” Heather said of mtvSolar.
Being part of a move toward clean energy, Blue Flame decided on a next step to multiply their impact – adding solar panels to the roof of the company offices.
“We really looked at it – there’s a changing world and clean energy is on people’s minds,” said Heather. “It is a natural partnership to partner solar with propane.”
Working with Senior PV Consultant Jabari Baker, Heather decided to maximize the roof space and have 70 solar panels installed. The plan was to essentially “zero out” Blue Flame’s annual electrical consumption with solar energy. Once the solar panel system was activated and the panels started generating power, electric bills for the Valley Road office dropped to the basic commercial billing level.
“We save about $4,000 per year,” said Heather.
Taking advantage of Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) funding for small rural businesses helped offset the costs of the solar installation significantly. Blue Flame received a 30% REAP grant when planning the project in 2022. The funding level for REAP has since risen to 50% for eligible companies.
“With the REAP grant where it is now makes it even more feasible. If your business is highly electric-intensive, the more sense it makes,” said Heather.
Working with mtvSolar and Jabari Baker smoothed the process for Blue Flame to apply for and get the REAP funding, Heather said.
“They did a great job managing that process. It’s an extensive process,” she said.
Heather praised mtvSolar’s customer service, Baker and the company’s way of doing business.
“Jabari is great. I’d like to hire a couple of Jabaris,” Heather joked. “What I like about him is he’s calm throughout the process. If I had a question, he was willing to answer it without hurrying me to get past it.”
For the most part, Heather forgets that Blue Flame’s electrical supply is coming from the 70 panels on the company roof. But customers and passers-by take note of the sleek panels and mention the solar array.
“It’s very public and people notice it,” said Heather. For Blue Flame, the panels are now just part of their clean energy business.
