In today’s EGEB:
- A new 280 megawatt solar farm is set for construction in Australia.
- And a 100 MW farm will be one of the largest solar projects in Alabama.
- Wyoming is ready to break ground on a multi-wind farm $3.1 billion project.
- Michigan residents can now add commercial solar arrays to their farmland.
Electrek Green Energy Brief: A daily technical, financial, and political review/analysis of important green energy news.
There’s been a lot of talk about Australian solar recently as the country is seeing a boom. Some are convinced it’ll lead to more than 50% renewables in the country by 2030, while others are sharing their concerns about the spread of “cheap solar.”
A big project now looks to be lined up for South Australia, as GFG Alliance and China’s Shanghai Electric are teaming up for a 280 megawatt project, Reuters reports. The project will power a steelworks, along with other “industrial and corporate customers.”
GFG is looking to invest $1 billion in Australian renewables, and this solar farm would make up a part of that. In addition to other renewables, such as a hydropower dam and battery dub, the conglomerate is looking to invest in up to 10 GW of solar in the country.
Construction of this particular project is set to start soon.
Alabama Sun
It might not quite measure up to the capacity of that Australian project, but a recently announced solar project will be one of the largest in Alabama.
Alabama Municipal Electric Authority (AMEA) and Lightsource BP announced late last week that a 130 MWdc/ 100 MWac solar energy project will be coming to Montgomery County, Alabama. Lightsource BP will “finance, develop, build, own, and operate the solar facility and will deliver energy to AMEA under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA).”
Lightsource BP has more information on the project:
The project will be one of the largest solar arrays in Alabama when it reaches completion in 2021, deploying over 350,000 solar panels across 800 acres. Lightsource BP and project investors will invest approximately $125 million into the solar facility. In addition to providing clean energy and bill savings to AMEA’s Members and their customers, the project will contribute over $5 million in property tax revenue to county schools over the 35-year project life.
Windy Wyoming
Wyoming has plenty of wind, and a massive new project looks to take advantage of it. The $3.1 billion project from Rocky Mountain Power includes three new wind farms, a 140-mile high voltage transmission line, and upgrades to existing turbines, Wyoming Public Media reports:
The utility’s spokesman Spencer Hall said the project will provide for up to 1,600 construction jobs and 100 full-time positions, while the new wind farms will generate 1,150 megawatts of energy.
More than 1 GW in one fell swoop is quite an order, and though there’s no exact completion date in the article, it does list projected tax revenue as $11 million for 2021 and $14 million annually by 2024. The project breaks ground this week.
More in Michigan
Michigan farmland is now free game for commercial solar arrays, after a decision by the state’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).
Governor Gretchen Whitmer and MDARD Director Gary McDowell announced the decision on Monday after a panel considered how solar might be able to work in tandem with farmland preservation. As McDowell said,
“This administrative decision will not result in a loss of useable farmland. The change ensures that Michigan’s farmland is preserved so we can continue to feed our communities while also balancing the need to develop renewable energy sources. This is an exciting new opportunity for Michigan’s farmers to diversify while they continue to face challenging circumstances.”
The recent change has a number of guidelines, including conditions that would require farmland to return to agriculture production if the solar array is removed. All conditions can be found on the MDARD farmland preservation webpage.
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