STUTTGART, Ark., May 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Local leaders
joined executives from NextEra Energy Resources (NYSE: NEE) and
Entergy Arkansas (NYSE: ETR) this morning to break ground on
Arkansas' largest universal solar
energy project – the Stuttgart Solar Energy Center.
"We are pleased to work with our partners at Entergy to bring
low-cost, renewable energy to their customers and introduce the
first universal solar project of this scale in Arkansas," said Armando Pimentel, president and CEO of NextEra
Energy Resources. "This project will bring good jobs, tax benefits
and affordable, renewable energy to the state for decades to
come."
The Stuttgart Solar Energy Center will span 475 acres,
approximately seven miles southeast of Stuttgart, AR. Construction will last
approximately nine months. Once complete, the facility will feature
more than 350,000 photovoltaic solar panels that convert the sun's
energy into electricity. The solar energy center will have a
capacity to generate 81 megawatts of electricity, or enough to
power more than 13,000 homes. An affiliate of NextEra Energy
Resources is developing the project and will build, own and operate
it. The energy will serve Entergy Arkansas customers under a
20-year power purchase agreement.
"This project allows Entergy Arkansas to diversify our power
generation in the state and provide our customers with access to
emissions-free, renewable energy at a good price," said
Rick Riley, president and CEO of
Entergy Arkansas. "In NextEra Energy Resources we have an
experienced partner to build and operate a project that will
deliver tremendous value to our customers."
The project will create a significant economic boost for
Arkansas County, creating up to
250 jobs during the construction phase. From labor and materials,
to housing, health care and construction - a wide variety of local
businesses will benefit from the influx of economic activity.
"This project will provide good jobs, and Arkansas County businesses will benefit from
the extra activity, too," said Bethany
Hildebrand, executive director and CEO of the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce. "We are
thrilled to host the state's largest solar facility and help
realize the benefits it can bring to our community."
Over its operational life, the Stuttgart Solar Energy Center is
expected to generate nearly $8
million in additional revenue for Arkansas County, with much of that funding
going to help Arkansas County
Public Schools.
"I know our county and school district will look at all of the
opportunities these funds will provide," said Arkansas County Judge
Eddie Best. "The funds will be a big
boost to many of the school district and county's future projects
and we couldn't be happier to welcome this facility to our
community."
NextEra Energy Resources
NextEra Energy Resources, LLC (together with its affiliated
entities, "NextEra Energy Resources"), is a clean energy leader and
is one of the largest wholesale generators of electric power in the
U.S., with approximately 19,990 megawatts of generating capacity,
which includes megawatts associated with noncontrolling interests
related to NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: NEP), primarily in 29
states and Canada as of year-end
2016. NextEra Energy Resources, together with its affiliated
entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from
the wind and sun. The business operates clean, emissions-free
nuclear power generation facilities in New Hampshire, Iowa and Wisconsin as part of the NextEra Energy
nuclear fleet, which is one of the largest in the United States. NextEra Energy Resources,
LLC is a subsidiary of Juno Beach,
Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more
information, visit www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.
Entergy Arkansas
Entergy Arkansas provides electricity to approximately 700,000
customers in 63 counties. Entergy Arkansas is a subsidiary of
Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR), an integrated energy company
engaged primarily in electric power production and retail
distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants
with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating
capacity, including nearly 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power.
Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of
approximately $11.5 billion and more
than 13,000 employees.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/entergy-nextera-energy-resources-break-ground-on-arkansas-largest-universal-solar-energy-project-300454234.html
SOURCE NextEra Energy Resources