Development of what can be the most important photo voltaic array in Kentucky is underway. Nationwide Grid Renewables on Dec. 14 stated the corporate’s 160-MW Unbridled venture, positioned in Webster and Henderson counties about 40 miles south of Evansville, Indiana, and 160 miles southwest of Louisville, is predicted to enter industrial operation subsequent 12 months.
Unbridled is Nationwide Grid’s first venture in Kentucky, a state lengthy depending on coal-fired era for its electrical energy provide. The photo voltaic farm has an influence buy settlement in place with Large Rivers Electrical Corp., which is partnering with Wanzek Development on the venture’s construct.
“We’re each proud and excited to be developing the most important photo voltaic renewable vitality venture within the state of Kentucky,” stated Blake Nixon, President of Nationwide Grid Renewables. “Unbridled is our first venture throughout the state and exemplifies our dedication to the clear vitality transition and the advantages it offers to rural economies within the type of new tax income and jobs all through America.”
Financial Affect
Nationwide Grid Renewables stated the venture is estimated to supply about $42 million in direct financial affect over the primary 20 years of the photo voltaic farm’s operation. Officers stated the array is accountable for the creation of not less than 200 jobs, and can present greater than $11 million in new tax income for the area, together with than $24 million to native farmers and landowners.
Authorities information exhibits Kentucky ranks forty third within the U.S. with simply 172 MW of put in solar energy capability. That accounts for lower than one-half of 1% of the state’s energy era. Kentucky has no state targets or mandates for using renewable vitality assets, and has no working utility-scale wind energy era.
Unbridled won’t be the state’s largest photo voltaic farm for lengthy. State regulators lately authorised a proposal by Louisville Fuel and Electrical and Kentucky Utilities (LG&E/KU) to put in 877 MW of photo voltaic era capability, together with 500 MWh of battery vitality storage, within the coming years. LG&E/KU earlier this 12 months stated the teams would shut a handful of coal-fired and in addition pure gas-fired models within the state, whereas preserving plans to construct two new gas-fired models.
BrightNight, a Florida-based renewable vitality developer, earlier this 12 months introduced plans to construct an 800-MW photo voltaic farm on the website of the previous Starfire Mine, which was as soon as among the many largest coal mines within the U.S. The corporate stated the BrightNight Starfire Renewable Power Middle, which might be positioned southeast of Lexington, the state capital, would signify a $1 billion funding. BrightNight stated Rivian, an electrical car producer, and the Nature Conservancy already had agreements to buy energy from the power.
The Photo voltaic Power Industries Affiliation (SEIA) has stated Kentucky might add as a lot as 3.3 GW of solar energy era capability over the subsequent 5 years, which might be a dramatic enhance within the state’s renewable vitality portfolio. The SEIA stated that till lately, a 14.1-MW array on the E.W. Brown Producing Station in Harrodsburg, which got here on-line in 2016, was the state’s largest solar energy set up. The Brown website additionally features a 412-MW coal-fired unit (two different coal models have been beforehand retired), seven pure gas-fired generators, with almost 900 MW of capability; and the 33-MW Dix Dam hydroelectric facility.
‘Beneficial Addition’
“The Unbridled Photo voltaic Challenge will likely be a brand new and priceless addition to the various energy portfolio wanted to supply secure, dependable, and sustainable vitality to our Member-House owners,” stated Bob Berry, president and CEO of Large Rivers Electrical, in a information launch. “This massive-scale venture additionally prioritizes our area with photo voltaic improvement that instantly advantages the native financial system and generates energy for the individuals we serve.”
“Unbridled is a strategic venture for Wanzek and the MasTec Renewables workforce in Kentucky,” stated Rob Turner, vp of Development for MasTec Renewables. “We’re thrilled to determine this partnership with Nationwide Grid Renewables and hope to proceed to construct extra clear vitality initiatives within the state.”
The U.S. Power Data Administration (EIA) stated coal offered about 68% of Kentucky’s utility-scale energy era final 12 months, behind solely West Virginia and Wyoming. Pure gas-fired energy vegetation generated about one-quarter of the state’s electrical energy in 2022.
EIA stated Kentucky is the fifth-largest coal-producing state, and is residence to about 20% of the nation’s working coal mines, behind solely West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Kentucky’s coal manufacturing, although, has fallen about 65% over the previous 10 years, as markets for the state’s coal have been diminished as different states have moved towards cleaner vitality assets.
—Darrell Proctor is a senior affiliate editor for POWER (@POWERmagazine).
