The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has awarded Nashville-based renewable energy provider Silicon Ranch Corp. a long-term power purchase agreement for a 53 MW solar project at Naval Support Activity Mid-South in Millington, Tenn. The solar array will be the largest in Tennessee and will provide power to TVA customers for the next 20 years.
“TVA is committed to providing renewable energy in a way that best serves our local power company customers and the more than nine million people of the Tennessee Valley,” says Van Wardlaw, TVA executive vice president of external relations. “This solar project supports our commitment to a diversified and cleaner energy portfolio, which includes energy efficiency and competitively priced renewable energy.”
According to TVA, the project will occupy over 400 acres and feature a single-axis tracking system to allow an estimated 580,000 panels to follow the sun across its daily arc. To support the facility, Silicon Ranch acquired 330 acres from the Millington Industrial Development Board and signed a real-estate lease with the Department of the Navy for another 72 acres of base land at NSA Mid-South.
The capacity generated on the Navy’s property will contribute to the department’s One Gigawatt initiative to enhance energy security and resiliency. The project includes electrical infrastructure upgrades to provide additional benefit to NSA Mid-South.
Silicon Ranch worked closely with the project stakeholders to develop the solar installation. Approximately $100 million will be invested to construct the facility, and Silicon Ranch will own and operate it during the life of the agreement.
“We remain focused on the economic, environmental and community benefits this project brings to TVA’s ratepayers, to the city of Millington and surrounding communities, and to the thousands of Tennesseans associated with the NSA Mid-South facility,” says Silicon Ranch President and CEO Matt Kisber.
