EKPC plans $335.4M solar farms in Fayette, Marion counties

WINCHESTER, Ky. — East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) today announced plans to add 136 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity with two new solar farms in Kentucky, one in Fayette County and another in Marion County.

EKPC has filed an application with the Kentucky Public Service Commission for review and approval of the proposed projects. The total cost of developing the two solar farms is estimated at $335.4 million.

Together, the two solar farms will produce enough electricity to meet the annual power needs of 15,500 typical Kentucky homes.

• Cooperative Solar Farm Two – Fayette. The Fayette County facility will have capacity to generate 40 MW of electricity on 387 acres. It will be located in eastern Fayette County, between Interstate 64 and U.S. 60. It is approximately 3.5 miles west of EKPC’s main campus, where the cooperative established its first solar farm in 2017.
• Cooperative Solar Farm Three – Marion. The Marion County facility will have capacity to generate 96 MW of electricity on 635 acres. It is located just north of Lebanon, on the east side of Ky. 55.

For more information about each project, visit EKPC’s web site at https://www.ekpc.coop/cooperative-solar-farms.

East Kentucky Power Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative providing wholesale electricity to 16 owner-member distribution cooperatives that serve 1.1 million Kentucky residents at 565,000 homes, businesses and industries across 89 counties. EKPC provides power through coal-fueled plants located in Mason and Pulaski counties; natural gas-fueled plants in Clark and Oldham counties; renewable energy plants in Barren, Boone, Clark, Greenup, Hardin and Pendleton counties; and nearly 3,000 miles of transmission lines. Together, EKPC and its 16 owner-member cooperatives are known as Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy

In addition to diversifying EKPC’s generating fleet and lowering its carbon footprint, these solar farms will help meet the energy needs of commercial and industrial members, which increasingly are seeking renewable power for their facilities. The solar farms also will provide low-cost power during periods of summer peak demand, helping to keep costs competitive.

“This is a big step forward in providing renewable energy options for homes and businesses in Kentucky,” said Tony Campbell, CEO of EKPC, a not-for-profit electric cooperative based in Winchester, Ky. “These solar farms will help to diversify EKPC’s electric-generating fleet, providing carbon-free electricity and helping to meet the growing demand for sustainable energy, especially among businesses and industries.”

The Fayette and Marion solar farms will diversify EKPC’s generating fleet and provide low-cost energy, said Don Mosier, EKPC’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President. Meanwhile, EKPC continues its focus on ensuring reliable, flexible electric capacity, regardless of weather conditions.

“While renewable energy will be a growing part of the generating portfolio, EKPC’s fossil fleet continues to play a vital role in ensuring 24/7/365 energy capacity for the homes and businesses served by our owner-member cooperatives,” Mosier said.

These projects resulted from solicitations for solar proposals. Each project was initiated by a private developer. Importantly, both projects are in the final stages of review for interconnection to the high-voltage transmission grid. The review process can take years to complete.

EKPC owns and operates Cooperative Solar Farm One, a 60-acre, 10-megawatt facility located at the cooperative’s main campus on U.S. 60 between Lexington and Winchester.