Two solar projects come online in northern Mississippi
Two of three planned solar projects in Panola County, Mississippi, are now online. Clearloop, a Silicon Ranch company, this week commissioned the 6.6-MW Panola I Solar Farm and 6.6-MW Panola II Solar Farm in partnership with local power company Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association (TVEPA) and local economic development group Panola Partnership.
Through Clearloop’s approach to help organizations reclaim their carbon footprint, over 30 companies of all sizes, including Microsoft, Vista Equity Partners, Chicory Wealth, Rivian, Oak View Group, Goodr, and Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals, have come together to support the Panola I and II Solar Farms. The collective efforts of these organizations have driven decarbonization and economic growth in the county, and powered Clearloop’s commitment to maximize the environmental, educational, and economic benefits of climate dollars.
As is the case with all Clearloop projects, the Panola solar projects were developed and will be owned and operated by Silicon Ranch, Clearloop’s parent company, for the projects’ entire 40-year lifetime.
“Today is a monumental day for Panola County. Through our partnership with Clearloop and support from numerous organizations, we are able to bring locally generated, reliable renewable energy to our community for the first time ever,” said Joe Azar, Executive Director of Economic Development for Panola County. “The Panola I and Panola II Solar Farms were strategically sited to welcome new businesses into our community, as these projects will serve as beacons of economic growth, demonstrating that our forward-thinking community is ready to meet the business requirements of the modern economy. Panola County is pleased to capture the significance of these solar projects in our official county logo.”
The first of the three projects, the 6.6-MW Panola I Solar Farm is supported by 30+ organizations including Vista Equity Partners and 21 of their portfolio companies, Uber, Rivian, Oak View Group/GOAL, Infoblox, FarmHouse Fresh, Chicory Wealth, Goodr, Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals, Aether Diamonds, and Material Bank.
The second project, the 6.6-MW Panola II Solar Farm, is supported by Microsoft as a continuation of the company’s efforts to diversify and scale-up the supply of impactful renewable energy and mechanisms enabling access for all.
Vanderbilt University is supporting the 4.8-MW Panola III Solar Farm, as part of a multiyear collaboration with Clearloop that builds on the university’s commitment to power its campus entirely through renewable energy and maintain carbon neutrality. The project is expected to be completed in Fall 2024.
News item from Clearloop