Evergy to add 10 MW solar array to coal-fired power plant in Kansas City
Evergy will add a touch of green to its coal-fired Hawthorn power plant in Kansas City, Mo., the company announced this week, care of 22,000 panels producing 10 MW of new solar energy.
While that project awaits regulatory approval, the solar power will be split down the middle if greenlit. Half will go to the nearly 1,200 participants in Evergy’s Solar Subscription program that have already signed on, while the other half will benefit all of Evergy’s customers. The array will sprawl across 67 acres of Missouri land and is expected to be operational this autumn.
“Our Hawthorn power plant is a prime location to showcase Kansas City’s commitment to renewable energy and our city’s forward-thinking progress,” Chuck Caisley, Evergy senior vice president and chief customer officer, said. “Bringing this renewable energy to Hawthorn will limit the expense by using infrastructure already in place.”
Currently, Hawthorn power plant is a 569 MW coal-based facility. However, the addition of solar to its offerings is part of Evergy’s overall plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2045. Along the way, it intends to add 500 MW of renewable energy over the next two years and nearly 4,000 MW over the next decade. By building solar onto an existing structure, the company maintains that lowered costs result, offering customers access to cheaper clean energy.
