Clarion Ledger

A proposed 100-megawatt solar energy project in the Delta is on track to become the largest utility-owned solar farm in the state if approved by the Mississippi Public Service Commission.

Canadian Solar Inc. subsidiary Recurrent Energy LLC would build the plant on behalf of Entergy Mississippi Inc., which would own the facility once it became operational. The emissions-free, renewable energy facility would be built on approximately 1,000 acres in Sunflower County. When the project is complete, which is expected to be by no later than 2022, it would connect to Entergy’s transmission grid in Ruleville.

"Building the utility of the future means embracing new technologies," said Haley Fisackerly, Entergy Mississippi president and chief executive officer. "The Sunflower Solar Facility will support our plan to offer community solar to customers who want renewable energy as part of their energy mix.”

A facility agreement has been signed for a base purchase price of about $138.4 million and would be able to generate enough clean energy to power over 16,000 homes, according to the company.

Entergy Mississippi began studying solar as a renewable energy source in 2016 when the company built three solar pilot project sites in Brookhaven, Hinds and DeSoto counties.

"The solar pilot projects helped answer many questions about solar in Mississippi and were the genesis for this larger project," Fisackerly said.

Entergy Mississippi’s solar pilot was the first-ever utility-owned solar project in the state. The three sites produce 1,500 kilowatts of electricity or enough to power the equivalent of 175 homes. The sites include real-time data monitoring.

Entergy Mississippi provides electricity to approximately 449,000 customers in 45 counties. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.9 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of approximately $11 billion and more than 13,000 employees.

More:Entergy's $20M 'brain of the electric grid' will spot outages faster