Sevier County officials hold ribbon-cutting for 4.28-megawatt solar power plant

DE QUEEN, Ark. — The hot sunshine was the perfect weather for Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting to celebrate the completion of a 4.28-megawatt solar power plant.

“Scenic Hill Solar won’t ever complain about a blazing sun,” CEO Bill Halter said as he addressed the crowd.

Scenic Hill Solar, in partnership with the city of De Queen, the De Queen School District and Sevier County, hosted the ceremony at the Treating Plant Road property owned by the De Queen School District near the school’s campus.

The new solar facility is projected to save approximately $2.4 million over the course of its operation and marks the city’s first major solar project, officials said. The power plant looks like one facility but is actually divided into three sections to provide solar power for the school district, county and city and help each save money on electricity.

The power plant was developed under Scenic Hill Solar’s American Made, Arkansas Built initiative and features domestically produced panels from First Solar.

Sevier County Judge Sandra Dunn said discussion of the solar plant has been ongoing for several years, and she commended the quorum court for its “forward thinking.” Dunn said Halter and Evan Long with Scenic Hill have been great at explaining the project at each step and attended several quorum court meetings.

De Queen Mayor Jeff Brown said he believes solar energy will be beneficial to area residents.

“One of my jobs as mayor is to make sure we have money in the bank. This will be a positive thing for De Queen for years to come,” he said.

Halter said the project was “complicated” at times but the groups working together in Sevier County “overcame every obstacle” and communicated well together.

Scenic Hill hopes to work on other solar projects in the community.

“This is the first step. We’re not done,” Halter said.