Adding to its growing fleet of utility-scale solar generating facilities, Entergy Arkansas has announced the start of commercial operations at the Walnut Bend Solar Energy Center. The 100 MW solar project is located in Lee County, east of Brinkley, Arkansas. Entergy Arkansas has acquired Walnut Bend from Invenergy, a leading private developer, owner and operator of renewable energy solutions. Invenergy led the development, engineering and construction of the facility.
“Walnut Bend will be a valuable addition to our generation fleet, which in turn complements our diverse mix of generation sources that have powered life in Arkansas for more than 100 years,” said Laura Landreaux, president and CEO of Entergy Arkansas . “Our investments in these generation resources are an important part of keeping the rates our customers pay below the regional and national average and allow us to provide reliable, affordable and sustainable service to our customers across the state.”
The Walnut Bend facility will generate an estimated $700,000 in annual property taxes for Lee County. It uses innovative technologies, including double-sided solar panels and sun-tracking racking equipment. Bifacial panels capture sunlight on both sides of the panel and take advantage of the light reflected from the ground, while shelving systems adjust their tilt to follow the sun throughout the day, maximizing their energy production.
“I am pleased to welcome Walnut Bend Solar to my district,” said Senator Ron Caldwell, District 10 of Arkansas. “This facility represents a significant investment in Lee County that will deliver economic benefits locally and across Arkansas.”
Walnut Bend is the fourth solar resource Entergy Arkansas has deployed; all generate sustainable, zero-emission solar energy for all Entergy Arkansas customers. The others are the 81 MW Stuttgart Solar, the 100 MW Chico Solar in Lake Village and the 100 MW Searcy Solar. The four facilities together will generate 381 megawatts of power for Entergy Arkansas customers.
Later this year, Entergy Arkansas will bring online an additional 430 MW of solar facilities: West Memphis (180 MW) and Driver (250 MW), which it will own and operate. There are plans to commission two additional solar facilities in 2025: Flat Fork (200 MW) and Forgeview (200 MW), which will provide energy and capacity to Entergy Arkansas through long-term power purchase agreements.
News story from Entergy Arkansas
