Left to right: Johan Vanhee, managing director operations and business development, Origis Energy; Nathan Brown, senior vice president chief operating officer, Cooperative Energy; and Gary Hutson, vice president power supply, Cooperative Energy, lead the groundbreaking on the 52MW solar site near Sumrall in Lamar County.
Hattiesburg, Mississippi-based Cooperative Energy and Origis Energy USA began construction in May on a 52-MW solar energy facility, which will provide clean energy to the generation and transmission cooperative’s 423,000 members across Mississippi. Origis Energy has developed and will install and operate the electric generation site, and Cooperative Energy will purchase all power produced at the location.
The 540-acre solar site is located near Sumrall in Lamar County. The site will encompass 206,892 photovoltaic solar panels when completed in December 2017. The project will create approximately 400 jobs during construction.
Solar is considered a clean energy technology as the electricity is produced via sunlight collected by the photovoltaic panels.
“Our members have told us they want more renewable energy in our portfolio,” said Jim Compton, Cooperative Energy’s president and CEO. “The project provides a significant amount of solar energy to power the homes and businesses we serve. So we are responding to our members, and also providing clean, affordable energy.”
“We are honored to be working with Cooperative Energy as they power more homes and businesses with solar every year,” said Johan Vanhee, managing director of business development for Origis Energy. “These utility and community leaders understand that solar provides clean, affordable power while creating jobs, economic and environmental benefits.”
Cooperative Energy began its venture into solar generation sites in 2016 with the installation of five smaller solar installations (100kW or less) at five Member locations across the state—Coahoma (Lyon), Coast (Kiln), Delta (Greenwood), Singing River (Lucedale), and Southern Pine (Taylorsville) electric power cooperatives.
Cooperative Energy has a diverse energy portfolio that includes natural gas, coal, nuclear and hydropower (another renewable). The broad mix allows the flexibility to minimize the impact of any significant increases in the cost of a single fuel source.
News item from Origis Energy