Aerojet Rocketdyne, a subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc., Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. (AECC) and Ouachita Electric Cooperative Corp. (OECC) have announced the full commissioning of a 100-acre solar project in East Camden, Ark.
The 12 MW AC array is located in the Highland Industrial Park and is owned and operated by Silicon Ranch Corp., which constructed and completed the project in late 2015. Aerojet Rocketdyne will purchase the solar power for its 1,200-acre East Camden facility, and excess solar energy will be released to AECC and dispatched to the wholesale power market.
“We are proud to report the testing period that began at the end of November has produced zero power anomalies, and with the unusually sunny Arkansas winter, we have been witness to the exciting potential solar has in Arkansas,” says Gary Vaughan, Aerojet Rocketdyne director of production operations. “Silicon Ranch and their construction partner, McCarthy Building Cos., produced a world-class solar facility that will benefit the company and the region today, and in the future.”
“This innovative partnership benefits electric cooperative members by providing predictable energy cost and contributing to the strong economic growth in the Camden area,” adds Duane Highley, president and CEO of AECC. “Arkansas Electric Cooperative is constantly evaluating sources to ensure that our 17 retail distribution cooperatives and their more than 1.2 million members have reliable electricity that is affordable.”
OECC, which serves Highland Industrial Park, assisted in the project by providing technical support, guidance and expertise in power production and delivery.
According to Matt Kisber, president and CEO of Silicon Ranch, construction of the Highland Park project was a seamless process, due in large part to the participation and support of OECC and AECC.
