Cooperative Energy, Origis Energy Celebrate Successful Launch of 52 MW Lamar County Solar Site
SUMRALL, Miss.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#Energy–Cooperative Energy and Origis Energy today celebrated their new joint
venture 52-megawatt solar project in Lamar County, signifying a major
commitment to generating environmentally-friendly renewable energy.
Elected officials and business leaders joined the two companies at the
celebration, held at the facility site near Sumrall in Lamar County. The
facility began operation in December. Today’s event included a ribbon
cutting to officially unveil the project.
The 540-acre site, MS Solar 3, includes 206,000 polycrystalline solar
panels which gather sunlight and transform it to energy that will power
up to 11,400 homes. MS Solar 3 uses the best, most efficient solar
technology available.
Origis Energy built, owns and operates the facility while
Hattiesburg-based Cooperative Energy has agreed to purchase all
electricity the plant produces. Cooperative Energy is a not-for-profit,
Member-owned generation and transmission cooperative that supplies
electricity to 11 Member cooperatives that stretch from the Gulf Coast
to the Tennessee line.
Cooperative Energy owns a diverse generation portfolio including coal,
natural gas, nuclear and renewables. It began solar generation in 2016
with the start of five 100-kilowatt solar sites built at Members’ local
headquarters.
“This new, utility scale solar generator represents a giant step forward
for Cooperative Energy in providing solar energy for our members,” said
Jim Compton, Cooperative Energy’s president and CEO. “Not only is it one
of the largest solar generation plants in Mississippi, it employs the
most advanced solar technology available today.”
Origis Energy is helping to power the solar revolution with the
construction of more than 100 operations worldwide. The company broke
ground on the Sumrall facility in May 2017 and met its goal of
production by year end.
“Solar energy benefits all stakeholders – the companies, the end users,
the public and the regulators,” said Guy Vanderhaegen, Origis Energy’s
CEO and president. “We firmly believe you will see more electrical
utility companies seek to expand their portfolio by adding solar and
partnering in projects such as this one. This area geographically
benefits from an abundance of sunlight and we know it will be successful
in reaching its generation goals.”
Additional beneficiaries of the partnership are the Mississippi Scholars
and Tech Master programs. Cooperative Energy and Origis Energy in late
October announced a $125,000 donation, the largest single gift ever made
to the programs.
Mississippi Scholars provides a focus on a STEM – science, technology,
engineering and math – curriculum. The program started in 2003 and is
now offered in 118 school districts and has recognized more than 40,000
high school graduates.
Tech Master helps students acquire the necessary skills to thrive in the
workplace. The program started in 2014 and is now offered in 83 school
districts and has recognized more than 3,000 high school graduates.
The two companies also donated $25,000 to the Lamar County Education
Foundation, which will help support students throughout the district.
Project funding was provided by Global Atlantic Financial Group, Origis
Energy and Wells Fargo.
About Cooperative Energy
Cooperative
Energy generates and transmits electricity to 11 Member-owned
electric distribution cooperatives. Known as the Power of 12,
Cooperative Energy and its Member cooperatives work together to provide
safe, reliable and affordable power from the Mississippi Delta to the
Coast. The 11 electric cooperatives own and maintain approximately
56,700 miles of distribution lines and provide service to approximately
427,000 homes and businesses throughout 55 counties.
About Origis Energy
Origis
Energy is Powering the Solar Revolution℠ with custom clean energy
solutions for utility, commercial and public sector clients. The Origis
team has worked to ensure the interests of all stakeholders are upheld
in more than 100 projects worldwide totaling over 1 gigawatt to date of
developed solar capacity. Headquartered in Miami, FL, Origis Energy USA
delivers excellence in solar and energy storage development, financing,
engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and operations,
maintenance and asset management for investors and clean energy
consumers across Europe and the Americas.
Contacts
Media
Cooperative Energy
Christa Rouse Bishop
Cooperative
Energy, Sr. VP, Communications
601.705.6612
[email protected]
or
Origis
Energy
Glenna Wiseman
909.553.3141
[email protected]