11 Jun Major solar project to be constructed in Covington County
Origis Energy and PowerSouth Energy Cooperative announced a power purchase agreement for an 80-megawatt solar project to be constructed in Covington County.
Wing Solar will provide enough energy to power approximately 13,000 homes annually. This will add the largest amount of clean, renewable, solar-generated energy to PowerSouth’s generation mix.
“This solar project provides PowerSouth and its members a clean resource to help fulfill its mission of providing long-term, reliable and affordable energy,” said Gary Smith, PowerSouth President and CEO. “We remain committed to supporting the stability and development of the communities we serve.”
The large-scale solar project is scheduled to come online by late 2022.
“A tremendous amount of work goes into the realization of a utility scale solar project by all parties involved, from the local level, the utility and our team here at Origis,” said Guy Vanderhaegen, Origis Energy CEO and President.
Origis Energy has selected a team of engineering consultants to assist in the construction and development of the project. Burns & McDonnell is handling all solar features of the project, and VHB will oversee environmental aspects. As the civil engineering consultant, CDG will perform site design, surveying, and geotechnical services.
“CDG is proud to be on Origis Energy’s development team for a project that is so vital to the future commercial and residential development of the area,” CDG Private Market Director Chris Ross said. “Wing Solar promises to be a great asset to the surrounding area for recruiting businesses who value renewable energy production.”
CDG’s geomatics team will complete the boundary and topographic surveys for the project site. Using Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), CDG will determine the property’s above and underground land features, including utilities.
“Due to the massive size of the site, LIDAR is the best method to ensure we account for every possible acre,” said Josh O’Ferrell, a professional land surveyor for CDG.
The data collected will assist with the development of the site’s preliminary design and permitting for the project including the site layout plan, stormwater features, control ponds and run-off control.
Utilizing an all-terrain drill rig, CDG will perform subsurface exploration to collect soil samples for testing. This ensures there is enough quality material for construction.
The addition of solar energy further diversifies PowerSouth’s generation portfolio, allowing the cooperative to safely deliver reliable and affordable wholesale energy to electric cooperatives and municipalities. Collectively they provide electric service to homes, businesses, and industries across Alabama and northwest Florida.