Mississippi commission approves Mississippi Power, SR Meridian, III request for 53 MW solar facility
The Mississippi Public Service Commission recently cleared Mississippi Power and SR Meridian, III, a wholly owned subsidiary of Silicon Ranch Corporation, to build and operate a 52.5-megawatt (MW) solar facility in Lauderdale County, Mississippi.
The project will include approximately 570,000 photovoltaic solar panels and generate enough electricity to power approximately 8,000 homes.
SR Meridian, III will construct, own, and operate the $100 million facility and will deliver wholesale energy to Mississippi Power below the company’s avoided cost through a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
“This partnership with Silicon Ranch will help Mississippi Power continue to support the expansion of solar generation in the state of Mississippi,” Mississippi Power President and CEO Anthony Wilson said. “This facility increases Mississippi Power’s access to solar power, supports the Navy in its renewable energy initiatives and is a significant investment in Lauderdale County.”
The facility, along with a six-MW solar plant under construction at Naval Air Station Meridian (NAS Meridian), will help support the Navy’s objective of strengthening grid resiliency and reliability.
“NAS Meridian’s success in effectively managing energy resources has been recognized at the highest levels of the Navy,” Captain Scott A. Bunnay, former commanding officer of NAS Meridian, said. “Efforts like these solar projects help bases become more resilient and secure.”
The plant is scheduled to enter operation by December 2019.
