By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–A large crowd of local and state officials were on hand for the ceremonial ‘Flipping of the Switch’ event at the Paris Solar Farm-Puryear Tuesday morning.
With groundbreaking at an empty field only 11 months ago, the new 6.75-megawatt facility spans 80 acres with 20,412 solar panels along 230 rows of panels.
Partners with Paris Board of Public Utilities are the Tennessee Valley Authority and Silicon Valley.
Board of Public Utilities CEO Terry Wimberley reminded everyone that 11 months ago “This was a wide open field. We could only imagine how it would end up. But 230 rows of panels and 20,412 panels later, here we are.”
The facility has been generating since December 21 and Wimberley said it has saved $70,000 for the utility over the first three months of generation. “And that is a win when we can save money. That means we can keep our rates stable for our customers,” he said. “And that brings stability.”
Speakers at the event in addition to Wimberley were Mark Yates of the TVA and Matt Brown of Silicon Valley, who participated in the ceremony flipping of an oversize switch to mark completion of the facility.
“The completion of this solar project in Henry County marks the beginning of a new era for Paris PBU as an even more resilient power company for our community. We’re proud to be leading clean energy efforts and providing solar-generated power to our local industries and customers,” Wimberley said. “This project wouldn’t have been possible without our trusted partner, Silicon Ranch. And we encourage others in the community to support the push towards locally generated, diversified, sustainable energy sources.”
The solar farm brings multiple benefits to Henry County. At 6.75MWAC of solar generation, the solar farm will generate cost-effective, renewable energy to 1,000 homes annually. Additionally, Paris Solar Farm – Puryear brings a 30-year fixed price for Paris BPU to purchase output through the Power Supply Flexibility Agreement in partnership with TVA and an estimated annual power cost savings of $300,000 for the utility through the Power Purchase Agreement in partnership with Silicon Ranch.
Another benefit includes the ability for Paris BPU to assist local industries in sustainability goals through 328,000 RECs (renewable energy certificates).
The story of the solar farm started several years ago when the local power companies (LPCs) asked TVA for flexibility “and TVA allowed that. They allowed us to do something with five percent of our load generated here in Henry County.
The Paris Solar Farm “is one of the first three or four in the Tennessee Valley,” Wimberley said. “It’s risk-free, with a lot of wins.”
From the outset, BPU was committed to sharing the facility with the local educational community and “that education has already begun”, Wimberley said, noting the students from both Paris Special Schools District and Henry County Schools who were at the ceremony and touring the facility.
Yates noted that in May the TVA will be celebrating its 90th anniversary and congratulated the BPU on its commitment to “a cleaner, greener future here.”
Brown of Silicon Ranch said, “This plant will be here when these kids who are here today will have grandkids. Just think about that. This is an amazing project.”
Wimberley said, “We are proud to partner with Silicon Ranch and TVA to bring rate stability to our customers and continue sustainability efforts through flexible solutions like Paris Solar Farm – Puryear. We look forward to the continuation of partnerships with Silicon Ranch and TVA, and the ability to serve Henry County with safe, reliable, and cost-effective energy.”
Photo: BPU CEO Terry Wimberley right, along with Mark Yates of the TVA, bottom, and Matt Brown of Silicon Ranch, top, ‘flip the switch’. Shannon McFarlin photo.