State regulators have given their backing to the construction of three PV projects totalling 105MW in Mississippi.
Power from the installations will be sold under long-term contracts between the projects’ developers and utility Mississippi Power.
The largest project is a 52MW array which will be built by Origis Energy at Sumrall.
Mississippi Power is also partnering with Strata Solar on a 50MW plant located in Hattiesburg.
The third project involves a collaboration with developer Hannah Solar and the US Navy, and will see a 3-4MW plant built at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport.
For each installation, the developers will finance the project with Mississippi Power receiving all their power and associated renewable energy credits.
“These cost-effective, utility-scale solar energy projects once again place Mississippi Power at the forefront of the state’s energy economy by adding renewable energy into the company’s portfolio,” said Mississippi Power president Anthony Wilson. “Working together with our partners, these projects will have a substantial impact on the amount of electricity generated by renewables in Mississippi.”
Mississippi Power said the solar facilities would not replace its conventional generating plants, but would help diversify the utility’s generation portfolio and keep rates down for its customers.
Construction on all three projects is expected to begin in early 2016.
