NextEra Energy, Entergy Arkansas commission state’s largest universal solar energy project
Executives from NextEra Energy Resources and Entergy Arkansas, along with state and local leaders, celebrated the commissioning of the Stuttgart Solar Energy Center, Arkansas’ largest universal solar energy project, on Tuesday.
The facility located on 475 acres approximately seven miles southeast of Stuttgart, Arkansas. It consists of more than 350,000 photovoltaic solar panels and has a total capacity of 81 megawatts (MW).
“Solar energy is good for Arkansans and good for our economy,” Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said. “Arkansas has many great natural resources. It’s wonderful we are now also utilizing the sun to provide clean energy to the state and drive our economy forward.”
A subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources constructed the facility and will own and operate it. The energy the project generates will serve Entergy Arkansas customers under a 20-year power purchase agreement.
“We are pleased to work with our partners at Entergy to bring the largest solar energy center in Arkansas online,” Armando Pimentel, president and CEO of NextEra Energy Resources, said. “This solar energy project will provide millions of dollars in additional tax revenue to Arkansas County and will generate cost-effective, home-grown solar energy for Entergy customers for years to come.”
Over its operational life, the facility is expected to generate approximately $8 million in additional revenue for Arkansas County.
“We are already seeing the project’s impacts in Arkansas County through new jobs and school funding,” Bethany Hildebrand, executive director and CEO of the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce, said. “We are thrilled to host the state’s largest solar facility and know it will continue to provide benefits to our community.”
