The solar energy center will generate enough electricity to power over 18,000 households in the county
Image: The Chicot Solar Energy Center will be equipped with nearly 350,000 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. Photo: courtesy of PublicDomainPictures/Pixabay.
US-based NextEra Energy Resources subsidiary and Entergy Arkansas have announced the start of construction on a 100MW utility-scale solar energy project in Arkansas, US.
Located near Lake Village in Chicot County, the Chicot Solar Energy Center will spread across 825 acres and be equipped with nearly 350,000 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels.
The solar energy center will generate enough electricity to power over 18,000 households in the county.
The NextEra Energy Resources subsidiary will develop, build, own and operate the project.
The energy generated will serve customers of local utility Entergy Arkansas under a 20-year power purchase agreement.
Entergy Arkansas president and CEO Laura Landreaux said: “Entergy Arkansas is already the largest solar provider in the state, and this project allows us to increase what we can provide for our customers.
“Large-scale, universal solar allows us to provide the benefits of renewable energy to all of our 700,000 customers at an economical price.”
Construction at the Chicot Solar Energy Center site is expected to be completed in around 11 months.
Construction of Chicot Solar Energy Center to generate 150 jobs
During the construction phase, the project is expected to generate about 150 jobs and will create a major economic boost for the county.
NextEra Energy Resources president and CEO John Ketchum said: “This project will bring good jobs, tax benefits and affordable, renewable energy to the state for decades to come.
“We are pleased to continue to work with our partners at Entergy Arkansas to bring economic, renewable energy to customers and introduce another universal solar project of this scale in Arkansas.”
Once completed, the Chicot Solar Energy Center will be larger than the Stuttgart Solar Energy Center, which became operational in 2018 and is Arkansas’ largest solar project at present.
During its operational life, the solar center is expected to produce approximately $7m in additional revenue for Chicot County, with much of that funding going to help Chicot County Public Schools.
In November, NextEra Energy Resources started operations at its 74.9MW Shaw Creek Solar Energy Centre in Aiken, South Carolina, US. Spread over an area of 560 acres, the new facility comprises over 270,000 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels.