Louisville Gas & Electric and Kentucky Utilities to add more than 1,100 solar panels to Solar Share facility
With the beginnings of construction on the fifth section of their combined Solar Share facility in Simpsonville, Kentucky, Louisville Gas & Electric (LG&E) and Kentucky Utilities (KU) intend to add another 1,100 solar panels to the site capable of generating another 500 kW of energy.
It is the latest piece of a facility intended to one day generate 4 MW of total renewable energy, spread across eight 500 kW sections. As it stands, the facility has been over halfway subscribed, with more than 500 residential and business customers earning credits on monthly bills for their support of its construction and energy production. More than 2,800 customers participate in the larger Solar Share program, supporting greener energy by chipping in at least 20 cents per day, factored into their bills.
“Our portfolio of tools and programs, like Solar Share, make it possible for customers to support renewable energy sources right here in Kentucky and the region,” Eileen Saunders, LG&E and KU vice president of Customer Services, said. “We’re providing information in near-real time, simplifying the processes, and partnering with customers who are interested in finding cost-effective solutions to achieve their sustainability goals.”
Over the last three years, the facility has produced more than 4 million kW-hours of energy that have provided bill credits for subscribers. It also represents a step toward LG&E and KU’s sustainability goals, which include achieving net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, and along the way, hitting a 70 percent reduction over 2010 levels by 2035.
Solar Alliance Energy Inc. will build the new section for LG&E and KU. After that, the construction of the remaining three sections will proceed once they have been fully subscribed.
