After the initial project site fell through, Wahoo Utilities of Wahoo, Nebraska, has successfully completed a 2-MWAC solar project with the help of development partner GenPro Energy Solutions. The array is built on 10 acres of land off County Road L leased to the solar project with payments benefiting the Wahoo Public Library, where landowner Denis Lawver is the director.
Credit: GenPro Energy Solutions
“The 2-MW solar project started from our Board of Public Works’ interest, after seeing many throughout the state. The main benefit of this project and partnership was affordable power very closely priced to what we buy our blended power from the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD),” said Ryan Hurst, general manager of Wahoo Utilities. “The 30-year contract on this Purchase Power Agreement was a way to hedge a portion of our power portfolio affordability for the next 30 years.”
The project began development in late 2020 and was approved for construction in July 2022. A partnership between GenPro Energy Solutions, Sol Systems, Mesner Development and Wahoo Utilities, the array has 6,534 solar panels, which is enough to power approximately 350 homes a year. The project and hydroelectric power from the Western Area Power Administration, in combination with the nuclear and other clean energy resources of the NPPD, allow Wahoo Utilities to have a balanced electric generation mix between carbon-free and traditional energy resources.
“We know this is a new community asset for economic development, as many companies want to have power provided to them from local carbon-free sources. Add in the new Trust benefiting the Library Foundation, it is an absolute win-win,” Hurst said. “All around this is a great partnership and we are excited to work with Sol Systems and GenPro for many years to come.”
News item from GenPro