Silicon Ranch Corporation, one of the nation’s largest independent power producers and a community-focused renewable energy company, and Bolivar Energy Authority (BEA) flipped the switch on the new 3.25-megawatt (MWAC) Bolivar Solar Farm in Hardeman County, Tennessee, along with Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The solar facility will provide enough low-cost solar energy to power more than 500 homes and help keep rates low for BEA’s more than 11,000 customers.
The Flip the Switch event celebrates the completion of construction for the solar facility, which is now officially supplying power to the electric grid. Despite global supply chain constraints and other industry challenges, Silicon Ranch remained on schedule and delivered the project on time, expanding the company’s legacy of successful project execution.
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The event was open to the public, and featured speakers from the community and organizations involved:
- Matt Kisber: Co-Founder and Chairman of Silicon Ranch
- Tony Kirk: President and CEO of BEA
- Ryan Leister: Director of Customer Relations western Tennessee at Tennessee Valley Authority
- Arlisa Armstrong, Tennessee Rural Development State Director at United States Department of Agriculture
In 2020, TVA began offering local power companies (LPCs) the flexibility to meet a portion of their power needs with local generating sources through its visionary generation flexibility program. As one of the first LPCs to execute a deal with TVA under those new terms, BEA chose Silicon Ranch as its partner for the solar project to help keep rates as low as possible for BEA customers and fully leverage the benefits that accompany such projects right here in Hardeman County.
“As a public power utility in the fifth largest county in Tennessee, BEA is extremely pleased to offer our community a low-cost, reliable energy solution from trusted local partners,” said Tony Kirk, BEA President and CEO. “TVA is enabling us and LPCs across the Valley to do just that through its generation flexibility program, by providing our community with the opportunity to partner with dependable, renewable energy providers like Silicon Ranch to procure local energy solutions. We are looking forward to continuing our long-term relationship with Silicon Ranch, as the company will own and operate the Bolivar Solar Farm for the entire lifetime of the project.”
SOURCE: Businesswire