Mississippi Power will collaborate with Strata Solar, Hannah Solar and the US Navy to construct utility-scale solar power generating farms totalling 53MW at two different locations in the US.
Mississippi Power will be the owner for all of the energy and associated renewable energy credits generated by both the projects. The firm may use the derived power from the projects to serve its existing customers, store for future renewable energy programs or sell it to new parties.
The first of the proposed projects will be built by the firm in association with Strata Solar at Hattiesburg-Forrest County Industrial Park near Hattiesburg city. Spread across 450 acres, the project is likely to have a generation capacity of 50MW.
The second development is projected to have a generation capacity of 3MW to 4MW. Mississippi Power will construct the project on a 23-acre site at the Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport in partnership with the US Navy and Hannah Solar.
Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport commanding officer Captain Paul Odenthal said: "This innovative project represents a significant, cost-effective contribution toward the Navy’s forward-leaning efforts to improve our national energy resilience through renewable."
The naval power project is in line with the Secretary of the Navy’s target to generate or buy 1GW of renewable energy.
Mississippi Power president Ed Holland said: "We are excited to be a part of this partnership to develop cost-effective, utility-scale solar generation to enhance our portfolio.
"Together these new solar facilities can produce the amount of energy used annually by approximately 7,800 homes. We look forward to bringing these projects to completion following approval by the Public Service Commission."
The projects are yet to receive approvals from Mississippi Public Service Commission. Once approved, the renewable projects are expected to be commissioned by 2016.
