Paradise Solar Project to bring clean energy to Muhlenberg County
GREENVILLE, Ky. (WBKO) -On Wednesday, Muhlenberg County officials, renewable energy leaders and community members gathered to celebrate the formal announcement of the new Paradise Solar Project.
The 62.5-megawatt solar farm, led by Kentucky-based company Edelen Renewables, will be built on reclaimed coal mining land near the former Paradise Power Plant, which officials say will honor the legacy of the region’s history.
“This community is owed a uniquely American debt for the role that your miners and your communities and your landscape have played in fueling the industrial development of this country,” said Edelen Renewables founder, Adam Edelen. “Today, we are working very hard to ensure that Muhlenberg County continues its’ historic role as an energy producer into the future, providing the fuel of the future. It’s about making sure that the people who powered our country aren’t left behind just because the economy has transitioned.”
The project is expected to generate enough solar-powered electricity to power over 5,000 homes annually, and officials expect job creation and investments to flow into the region once the solar farm is built.
“Developing new energy processes is critical for our community, our state, and our nation. It’s being built on a former surface coal mine that I actually worked in back in 1978,” said Muhlenberg County Judge Executive, Mack MeGehee. “After years in the coal mining industry, it’s meaningful to see this reclaimed land put to good use.”
Among the most important aspects of the solar project for MeGehee was that it not take up farm land as it is already a finite resource. He also noted the aesthetics of the new project’s location, stating that the tree line separating the property from the road will likely result in area residents not seeing any of the solar panels unless they are on the property itself.
Officials expect the Paradise Solar Project to begin construction within the next year.
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