Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions expands renewable energy efforts to Mississippi

With the purchase of the 100 MW Wildflower Solar facility from the Clearway Energy Group, Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions this week officially expanded its solar offerings to the state of Mississippi, from which it will supply Toyota North America for the next 15 years.

A non-regulated commercial brand of Duke Energy, Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions reached the agreement with Toyota through a virtual power purchase agreement that will cover up to 80 MWs of the new project’s solar energy. Wildflower is in close proximity to Toyota’s Mississippi manufacturing facility, so this will aid the automotive manufacturer in replacing high-emissions electricity with zero-emissions renewable electricity in a less jarring manner. The company expects construction on the Wildflower site to begin in late 2022 and reach commercial operation later next year.

“We’re excited to continue to expand our commercial solar portfolio and enter into the Mississippi market, which will build upon the area’s clean energy resources,” Chris Fallon, president of Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions, said. “Once complete, Wildflower Solar will further diversify Mississippi’s energy infrastructure while also reducing Toyota’s emissions from its North American operations.”

Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions will own and operate the project outright and add it to Duke Energy’s more than 10,500 MW portfolio of solar and wind energy. As to Toyota, the project will advance the company’s steps toward carbon neutrality by 2035.

”Our collective future depends on clean mobility, clean air, clean water, and biodiversity,” Kevin Butt, director of sustainability for Toyota Motor North America, said. “Renewable energy sources, like solar, are a key to achieving our goal of carbon neutrality, and our purchase from Wildflower alone has the potential to reduce Toyota’s carbon footprint in North America by as much as 8 percent.”