EDP Renewables North America LLC (EDPR NA) has completed the Misenheimer solar park, the company’s first solar project in North Carolina. The solar project, located in the village of Misenheimer, Stanly County, North Carolina, is one of the largest in the state, with an installed capacity of 74 MW.
Misenheimer Solar Park, which will be operated by EDPR NA, will generate enough energy annually to power the equivalent of more than 12,000 homes in North Carolina, while providing economic and environmental benefits to communities near the project and across the state.
Over the life of the solar farm, local landowners will receive more than $27 million for their participation in the project, while an estimated additional $3.5 million will be paid out to local governments to support schools, roads, public transportation and other community services. Millions of dollars in additional investments are also expected to flow to local businesses in Stanly County, bolstering area restaurants, hotels and shops.
Most importantly, Misenheimer will create hundreds of local and long-term employment opportunities, starting with those filled during construction and continuing through the operational phase, hiring several full-time team members to safely operate the solar farm and routinely to maintain.
The development of Misenheimer was started by Orion Power Generation LLC – a joint venture between Orion Renewable Energy Group LLC and Eolian – with EDPR NA taking over the development and construction of the solar park from 2020.
EDPR NA immediately engaged with the local community, successfully accelerating the development of the solar park. With Stanly County serving as a regional hub for higher education, Misenheimer worked with students from neighboring Pfeiffer University on the project logo, with a student vote to choose the solar farm’s official logo. In addition, the university partnered with EDPR NA to host a Community Open House prior to construction, educating stakeholders across the province about the technologies being implemented and the critical role of the local community in the success of the project.
“The fully operational Misenheimer Solar Park is a success that can be attributed to the strong partnership and collaboration between the EDPR NA team and the communities of the Village of Misenheimer and Stanly County who worked together to make this project a reality,” Sandhya Ganapathy, CEO of EDP Renewables North America. “Our mutual dedication and commitment to the community was the key driver for its success, and we see this as the beginning of a journey, united together, to provide North Carolina with affordable clean energy.”
North Carolina is the 18th U.S. state where EDPR NA is operating a utility-scale renewable energy project, with the company currently seeking additional opportunities to bring more renewable energy to the state.
EDPR NA expects to add approximately 5.7 GW of new operational renewable energy capacity to the grid by 2027.
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