If all works out, there could be a so-called “sun farm” near Americus at some point in the next two years.
Today’s Power, Inc., has partnered with a dozen electric cooperatives, including 4 Rivers, to build 20 sun farms across Kansas. The 4 Rivers sun farm is tentatively planned for installation in the 2700 block of Road M near the cooperative’s Americus substation.
Today’s Power says the goal is to harvest renewable energy and to provide rate stability for the participating cooperatives. Plans started formulating when the wholesale power contract between the cooperatives and their generation and transmission company, Kansas Electric Power Cooperatives, was recently adjusted so the cooperatives could “self-procure” up to 15 percent of peak demand with five percent of that amount set aside strictly for solar energy.
As part of the overall agreement, the cooperatives will be responsible for purchasing the electricity coming from the solar farms with low up-front costs linked to developing renewable solar power.
All told, the plan is to add more than 20 megawatts — roughly one megawatt per sun farm, or enough to power nearly 200 homes — with power spread out over 800 miles.
The goal is to start construction at some time next year. The 4 Rivers project has not yet started the zoning process. The first discussion before the Lyon County Planning and Appeals Board will be Dec. 9.
KVOE News has reached out to 4 Rivers executives for more information.
