Winchester power provider makes plans to expand solar power operations - Fox 56 News
Winchester power provider makes plans to expand solar power operations | FOX 56 News
WINCHESTER, Ky. ( FOX 56) — One Winchester power provider is depending more on the sun as it is looking to expand its reach with plans to expand its renewable energy options.
East Kentucky Power Cooperative in Winchester owns and operates multiple power plants, providing energy for 16 electric cooperatives in central and eastern Kentucky.
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“Our goal every day is to be reliable, to keep the power on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” said Nick Comer, external affairs manager for EKPC.
Organization leaders say they want to reduce carbon intensity for the power they currently provide to 89 counties in the state.
“When we burn coal or burn natural gas, it releases carbon dioxide into the environment,” said Comer. “And as we’ve all learned with global warming and the greenhouse effect, that affects our climate.”
Comer said EKPC has seen success with solar power through its first cooperative solar farm that’s been active since 2017. He noted this is a large reason the company now has plans to build two more solar farms—one in east Fayette County and the other in Marion County.
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“Ultimately, we’re looking for energy that’s affordable for our members,” he said. “It’s cost-competitive for those businesses out there. So, it’s a big investment, but it brings a lot of value for our cooperative members.”
The two solar farms together would provide 136 megawatts of renewable, carbon-free electricity. EKPC said that’s enough energy for 15,500 homes. Comer also said the solar farms would help them meet the regulations they face.
“Just the other day, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency proposed or actually finalized rules to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from our power plants.”
Comer said this is a $335 million project, and it won’t happen overnight. The Kentucky Public Service Commission still has to review the project application and take public comments. If approved, he said construction will likely start in 2025, finishing sometime in 2027.
Related Knowledge Center: ENERGY BASICS: solar
Declining costs and government encouragement have resulted in a rapid increase in solar energy production in the United States over the past 10 years, although solar’s share remains small: 1.6 percent of all electricity generation in 2018. That rapid growth is projected to continue.