New solar farm prepared in Henderson County would certainly be largest renewable resource farm yet

• A major power generator is seeking state authority to develop and also operate a third huge solar power farm in country Henderson County.

Sebree Solar LLC recommends building a 1,200-acre solar array north and west of Robards that would certainly produce as much as 250 megawatts of electrical energy-- about two times the peak power use in the city of Henderson-- by late 2023.

It recommends to market its power on the open wholesale market using a 4.9-mile-long, 161,000-volt transmission line it would build to connect the solar array to a Big Rivers Electric Corp. substation at its nuclear power plant complicated north of Sebree. If approved, building might start in April 2022.

The firm claims the project would set you back $257 million, require 250 to 300 construction workers, develop 3 permanent jobs balancing $80,000 per year and generate about $12 million in extra tax obligation earnings over three decades.

Sebree Solar is an associate of NextEra Energy Resources LLC of Juno Coastline, Florida, which says it is the world's biggest generator of eco-friendly wind as well as solar energy. Both belong to NextEra Energy Inc., which possesses Florida Power & Light Co., the biggest electric utility in the United States.

The Sebree Solar array would be built beside the 1,680-acre Unbridled Solar LLC project planned on the Henderson-Webster county line south of Robards that would generate approximately 160 MW of power for Big Rivers. That project won authorization from the Kentucky Electric Generation as well as Transmission Siting Board in early June.

Additionally, Community Energy Inc. remains in the process of establishing the 541-acre Henderson County Solar farm along the Kentucky 425 South Bypass and also Lovers Lane that would give as much as 50 MW of power for Henderson Municipal Power & Light. It looked for state Siting Board approval last month.

Now, Sebree Solar is additionally looking for approval from the Siting Board.

The Siting Board takes into consideration issues such as sound, aesthetic impact, web traffic, financial effects and also results on Kentucky's electrical grid. It additionally addresses conformity with neighborhood preparation as well as zoning requirements. It doesn't deal with ecological matters, which are under the territory of the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection.

By regulation, the Siting Board has 120 days after an application is considered total (or 180 days if a formal hearing is requested) to choose whether to approve an application.

Individuals or entities with a particular rate of interest in the event may put on the Siting Board to end up being official parties to the situation. A formal evidentiary hearing might be performed at the demand of celebrations to the case or on the activity of the Siting Board.

A local public conference will be carried out if requested by a local government entity and also might be held if requested by at least three locals of the county in which the facility is suggested. The regional public meeting would certainly give a chance for the public to be heard by the Siting Board in a casual setting.

Ask for intervenor standing, a formal hearing or a neighborhood public meeting need to be made in writing to the Siting Board by Sept. 11. Demands might be filed by e-mail to [email protected] or via the PSC's digital declaring system.

In addition to a number of state officials, the Siting Board for Sebree Solar will include two regional members designated by the governor to offer for a certain situation. Webster County Judge-Executive Steve Henry reports that he and Henderson County Judge-Executive Brad Schneider have concurred that Henry could be a participant.