Hinds County Facility Shows Solar Power in Mississippi Is Catching Up

Renewables represent Mississippi’s third largest energy generation capacity after natural gas and coal. The blueprint for the state’s electricity needs through 2025 is enshrined in the Bright Future plan and is approved by the Public Service Commission of Mississippi. The objectives are to enhance reliability, upgrade the grid, stabilize rates, and use new technologies in the industry. A major project that has taken off is the Hinds solar site expected to produce up to 500 kilowatts of electricity.

Solar power is the third biggest source of renewable energy in the world. In the US, 2.8% of electricity comes from solar energy while all renewables account for 20% of power generation. However, the potential of solar energy is enormous given its abundance throughout the US. In addition, prices of solar panels have dropped significantly making it an affordable investment. According to experts at Ecowatch, consumers can make the right decisions and find the appropriate panels that meet their needs and requirements based on their review guides. These unbiased reviews contain valuable data and insider information to help homeowners in Mississippi choose solar panels that offer the best value and performance.

Hinds county, covering the cities of Clinton, Byram, Jackson, and Raymond, is the state’s most populous. The ground-mounted system in the county is part of a pilot project to gather data and help establish the economics of solar generation in the state. According to Haley Fisackerly, CEO and President of Entergy Mississippi, the installation of the Hinds facility as well as two others in Lincoln and de Soto counties make them the ‘first utility-owned projects’ in the state.

Last month, Entergy announced the completion of the biggest renewable energy plant in Mississippi, the Sunflower Solar Station project. The facility is in Ruleville occupying 1,000 acres and is expected to be operational in mid-July. It has a 100-megawatt capacity. The new solar project will increase the state’s total renewable energy capacity by 50%. Before the Sunflower station was completed, the state had 220 megawatts of renewable capacity from 8 different facilities according to the Public Service Commission. The project is part of Entergy’s initiative to replace some of its non-renewable energy plants with green sources.  It aims to hit 1,100 megawatts of renewable power capacity by 2027. Says Laura Hip of the Mississippi Development Authority, ‘the demand for renewable energy is an evolution in economic development.’ She says that nearly half of all requests for new projects are for part or all electricity from renewable sources.

No doubt, Mississippi is committed to a clean energy transition. The facility in Hinds, along with the opening of the Sunflower station, is a sign that the state is catching up in solar power generation.