Silicon Ranch’s Copeland Solar Farm will be the largest solar facility to serve a local power company under the popular TVA program
Pictured above: Chris Jones (President and CEO of Middle Tennessee Electric); Reagan Farr (Co-founder and CEO of Silicon Ranch).
Nashville-based Silicon Ranch, one of the nation’s largest independent power producers specializing in solar energy, agrivoltaics and carbon solutions and Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE), the largest electric cooperative in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) region and the second largest in the United States, recently announced a landmark solar agreement under TVA’s newly expanded Generation Flexibility Program.
The two middle Tennessee businesses have agreed to partner on the 110-megawatt (MWAC) Copeland Solar Farm, which will be the largest solar facility to serve a local power company (LPC) directly in the Tennessee Valley. On behalf of MTE, Silicon Ranch will fund, construct, own, operate and maintain the 110 MWAC Copeland Solar Farm in Cumberland County.
“Once construction is completed in late 2027, MTE will receive the power and environmental attributes generated by the facility—realizing savings on Day One of operation—to benefit the more than 750,000 Tennesseans the cooperative serves across 11 counties,” according to a release. “As both the landowner and operator, Silicon Ranch will remain invested in and committed to the continued success and economic viability of Cumberland County and the surrounding community for decades to come.”
Silicon Ranch is making a significant investment to install the Copeland Solar Farm and over time the project will generate millions of dollars in new tax revenue for Cumberland County to support local infrastructure and schools, among other community-identified priorities.
“Because we are owned by the members we serve, MTE is constantly seeking new ways to deliver value and to meet their evolving needs and expectations,” said Chris Jones, President and CEO of Middle Tennessee Electric. “As part of this effort, our team worked closely with TVA to update the Generation Flexibility Program, and we thank TVA for its collaborative spirit to make this project and this partnership with Silicon Ranch a reality. MTE is pleased and grateful to partner with Silicon Ranch, a trusted local provider that is the recognized leader in providing solar power to electric cooperatives not just for the Tennessee Valley, but across this country.”
Silicone Ranch’s top priority is to support communities, according to the release.
“At Silicon Ranch, our No. 1 priority is to support stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities through the work that we do, and this mission aligns perfectly with the ethos of America’s electric cooperatives,” said Matt Kisber, Co-Founder and Chairman of Silicon Ranch. “Silicon Ranch is thrilled to expand this important work with MTE, the region’s largest co-op and an innovative utility that embraces its leadership role to drive the Tennessee Valley forward. We are pleased to have this opportunity to deliver more positive impacts at scale right here at home, and we thank Cumberland County for welcoming us as its newest corporate citizen.”
To celebrate the milestone agreement, Silicon Ranch hosted a signing ceremony at the company’s headquarters in downtown Nashville with senior officials from MTE and TVA.
“TVA’s Generation Flexibility Program is extremely popular because it helps our LPC partners use renewable energy to lower costs and provide economic benefit to their community,” said Justin Maierhofer, Regional Vice President at TVA. “TVA thanks MTE and Silicon Ranch for their collaboration as we grow renewable energy and drive meaningful investment in Cumberland County.”
Photo via Businesswire.
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