Read original article at Solar Power World.
Silicon Ranch is building a 6.6-MWDC solar project in Panola County, Mississippi, that will support Microsoft’s company goals to reduce carbon production. The project is being facilitated through Silicon Ranch’s carbon reduction subsidiary, Clearloop.
The Panola II Solar Farm will be built in a community at the cross section of the Mississippi Delta and the Appalachian Foothills. Through its participation in the project, this array will generate enough energy to help power approximately 1,000 area homes annually.
“Microsoft’s ambitious decarbonization goals and Clearloop’s mission make this a uniquely well-suited relationship, one that will come to life in this welcoming Mississippi community,” said Laura Zapata, CEO and Co-founder of Clearloop. “We are so proud to be connecting global organizations like Microsoft with communities like Panola County that can benefit the most from the energy transition taking place in our country.”
Clearloop locates projects in American communities where new solar generation can displace the most carbon while investing in a more equitable clean energy transition.
“Decarbonizing the electricity grid is key to combatting climate change. Adding new solar projects where they can displace the most emissions will help achieve this outcome as quickly as possible, and it’s important that we do so while also supporting local communities,” said Danielle Decatur, director of environmental justice at Microsoft. “Clearloop’s model directly aligns with this vision and has introduced a new ‘tool in the toolbox’ for companies seeking to maximize community impact on their path to addressing climate change.”
The Panola II Solar Farm is one of three new solar projects launched by Clearloop in collaboration with the Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association (TVEPA) and with the support of the local economic development group, the Panola Partnership. TVEPA is working with Clearloop its parent company, Silicon Ranch, to bring locally-generated, reliable renewable energy to the county for the first time, all at the cost-effective prices that members of the rural electric cooperative have come to expect.
“We’re thrilled that Microsoft has chosen to invest in this new solar farm through Clearloop and proud to welcome them as the newest part of our shared legacy here in Panola County,” said Joe Azar, executive director of economic development for Panola County. “This project will create meaningful opportunities for area residents, creating jobs for our skilled workforce, supporting our entrepreneurial pipeline, and demonstrating that our community is a hub of innovation in the making, ripe for growth. We’re grateful to Microsoft for being intentional with its investments that put places like Panola County, Mississippi, on the map for more economic growth opportunities in the future.”
As is the case with all Clearloop projects, the Panola II Solar Farm will be developed, owned, and operated by. Silicon Ranch for the lifetime of the project. The Panola II Solar Farm is scheduled to achieve commercial operations in 2024.
Read original article at Solar Power World.
