A new solar power facility has been unveiled in Southwest Arkansas.
On Monday, Sept. 28, the Southwest Arkansas Electric Cooperative (SWAEC) dedicated its new C. Wayne Whitaker Solar Power Generation Facility, named after SWAEC manager Wayne Whitaker, who is set to retire in 2020.
The new facility, located off Highway 49 in Texarkana, is expected to generate approximately 2,250,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. The solar array sits on seven acres of land and consists of roughly 3,800 solar panels.
Today’s Power Inc. officials took part in flipping the switch on the new facility.
“It is an honor to be part of this flip the switch ceremony and especially the dedication of this solar facility to Wayne Whitaker. I have had the opportunity to work with Wayne for 34 years and I hold him in the highest regard as an industry leader. He has always made well thought-out decisions that are in the best interest of the members. This solar system is a great representative of Wayne by being productive, leading edge, reliable and has great endurance”, TPI president Michael Henderson said in a statement.
Today’s Power has built and installed the 1.4 MW single-axis tracking system. The North Little Rock-based solar company will own and operate the array as part of a twenty-year arrangement.
According to Whitaker, the new solar array is designed to add increase the cooperative’s renewable energy generation to provide affordable energy for its members. The cooperative serves more than 28,000 members in eight Arkansas counties, including Columbia, Hempstead, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Polk, Sevier counties, as well as members in McCurtain, Okla. and Bowie, Texas.
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