EDP Renewables North America announced that it has delivered on three new utility-scale solar projects totaling 400 MW. Microsoft has agreed to purchase 389 MW of electricity and renewable energy credits (RECs) from the projects through long-term virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs). The delivery of these projects brings the total operational portfolio to five projects between the two companies in the United States.
In Southern Illinois, EDPR NA commissioned the 140-MW Wolf Run Solar Project near Jacksonville and the 110-MW Hickory Solar Project near Jerseyville in November last year. The 150-MW Cattlemen II Solar Project located near Austin, Texas, came online in December.
EDPR NA developed Hickory and Microsoft agreed to purchase electricity and RECs. Hickory uses an Environmental Justice PPA developed by Microsoft and Volt Energy Utility, a minority-owned renewable energy developer focused on making clean energy investments in rural and urban communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. With the EJ PPA, Hickory will contribute funding to enable Sharing the Power Foundation to offer financial assistance to organizations and causes that ensure equal access to clean air, water, and renewable energy, as well as offer availability to energy assistance programs; and opportunities to pursue workforce training in clean energy careers.
Wolf Run and Hickory have contributed $4.8 million to landowners, who lease a portion of their land to the projects. The two Illinois projects created 500 construction jobs and 5 permanent jobs.
Cattlemen II in Texas will also contribute millions in taxes, benefiting the local school district and local government. The project created approximately 300 construction jobs and will support several permanent jobs in the area.
The operations of these three projects will continue to increase local spending, often seen by service providers, restaurants, hotels and other retailers near the project communities, with more than $10.4 million spent to date during construction.
“The importance of ensuring benefits flowing from renewable energy development directly into communities has never been more important,” said Sandhya Ganapathy, CEO, EDP Renewables North America. “Through these three additional projects, we’re keeping our promise — and indeed the industry’s promise — to contribute to the nation’s growing energy demand and in that process invest in long-lasting economic growth of our communities.”
News item from EDP Renewables North America
