Construction of the largest solar farm in Kentucky will be built on a former coal mine in eastern Kentucky by Savion Energy. The 200 MW solar farm is expected to provide employment opportunities for former coal workers. The Kansas City-based company has named the plant the Martin County Solar project. It will be built on around 1,200 acres of land and will generate electricity that will be linked to Kentucky Power’s 138-kilovolt Inez Substation. When completed, the project will have a capacity of up to 200 MW and provide enough energy to power more than 33,000 houses in the state.
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One of the primary focuses of the Biden Administration’s energy transition initiatives has been to create new job possibilities for displaced fossil fuel employees in renewable energy. Furthermore, following completion of the project, all temporary construction employees will obtain accreditation, allowing them to pursue further careers in solar construction. The facility’s construction will begin in 2022, and the solar farm should be operational by early 2024. The project will generate between 250 and 300 construction jobs, as well as 11 full-time positions.
In October, it was stated that Kentucky had an 815 MW pipeline of solar projects in the next five years, including many projects with capacities above 100 MW. The 125 MW project being constructed by LG&E KU, the Martin and Fleming County installations, as well as a three-site, and a 173 MW solar, 30 MW/120 MWh storage system sourced via the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Green Invest program, are among these projects.
Commentary on the largest solar farm in Kentucky
“We are constructing a future that works for all Kentuckians, and part of that future is a greater dependence on renewable energy.” To sustain the amazing economic momentum we’ve built this year, we must continue to compete for all types of energy investment. “I want to applaud Savion for selecting Kentucky,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.
