Mississippi Power and Silicon Ranch Corp. have broken ground on a $100 million, 50 MW solar project in Hattiesburg, Miss. Anthony L. Wilson, president and CEO of Mississippi Power, says the utility is “committed to having a well-balanced energy portfolio.”
“This is the second of three major solar projects that have been approved by the Public Service Commission, demonstrating Mississippi Power’s continuing commitment to cost-effective solar development,” comments Wilson. “The Pine Belt region is one of the hubs of economic development in the state, and our investments in renewable energy here will contribute to future growth.”
In May, Mississippi Power and Origis Energy will break ground on a 52 MW utility-scale solar project in Sumrall. In March, the utility, the U.S. Navy and Hannah Solar broke ground on a 3 MW to 4 MW solar project at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport.
The Hattiesburg solar farm will be on 450 acres and feature more than 600,000 solar panels. The project is expected to create approximately 400 jobs during construction and is slated for completion by early 2017.
Silicon Ranch will fund, own and operate the project and has selected Strata Solar to build it. Mississippi Power will receive all the energy produced over the next 25 years and will also receive all associated renewable energy credits, which it may use to either serve its customers with renewable energy, use for future renewable energy programs or sell at wholesale to third parties.
