In this edition of the Projects Weekly, EDP Renewables has built a new 100 MW solar project in Madison County, Mississippi. Nautilus Solar Energy has acquired nearly 11 MWdc of Illinois community solar from Renewable Properties. Radiance Solar and SolAmerica are building a 2.86 MW solar array in Illinois. Read on for more.
EDP Renewables North America LLC (EDPR NA) has launched its Ragsdale Solar Park in Madison Country, Mississippi. The 100 MW project, which went operational in late Q4 2024, will provide power directly into Entergy Mississippi’s transmission system while providing economic benefits to the surrounding community. Amazon has contracted for all 100 MW through a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA). This newest project solidifies EDPR NA’s position as a leading renewable energy developer in the southern United States.
Development of Ragsdale was initiated in 2016 by Acadian Renewable Energy, a joint venture between SunChase Power and Eolian LP. EDPR NA acquired Ragsdale from Acadian in early 2022 and subsequently completed development of the project.
Cool factor: In addition to generating enough energy to power the equivalent consumption of more than 15,700 Mississippi homes each year, Ragsdale will boost the local economy through a variety of local benefits. Approximately $34.6 million will be paid in taxes over the life of the project to local governments and will go towards enhancing schools, roads, and other essential services. Approximately $15 million will also be paid to local landowners, who lease a portion of their land to host the solar park’s infrastructure. Ragsdale employed more than 100 people to construct the projects and will fill up to 3 full-time positions to safely operate and perform routine maintenance on the solar park throughout its multi-decade operational life.
The construction and operations of Ragsdale will continue to increase local spending, seen primarily at restaurants, hotels, and retailers near the projects, currently amounting to approximately $2.7 million. Additionally, the project will yield environmental benefits – including saving more than 127 million gallons of water each year – which is the amount of water that conventional generation sources would need to produce the same amount of energy as the solar park. Ragsdale has also committed to a net-zero future with an expected 3,200+ solar panels –- approximately 120 tons of damaged or discarded panels –- to be recycled with Close the Loop Program partner, SOLARCYCLE.
“Ragsdale signifies EDP Renewables’ ongoing commitment to Mississippi, its communities, and local businesses. The opportunity to develop utility-scale solar and contract directly with customers like Amazon, who are also committed to expanding their own presence in Mississippi, has been invaluable. We are proud to aid the state’s commercial and industrial growth with homegrown energy solutions,” noted Sandhya Ganapathy, CEO of EDP Renewables North America.
During the development of Ragsdale, EDPR NA collaborated with Signal Energy and Beta Engineering to educate community leaders and stakeholders on how renewable energy can stimulate economic growth in communities.Signal Energy and Beta Engineering provided high-voltage engineering, procurement, and construction services to interconnect Ragsdale to the grid.
Nautilus Solar Energy has acquired nearly 11 MWdc of Illinois community solar from Renewable Properties.
“This acquisition aligns with our mission to harness the power of the sun to create clean and reliable energy sources for a brighter future,” said Eric Paul, Vice President of Partner Development for Nautilus Solar Energy. “By working with a seasoned development company like Renewable Properties to expand our community solar footprint in Illinois, we are empowering more residents and businesses to lower their electricity costs without the burden of costly up-front investments, ensuring that solar energy is both affordable and accessible.”
Cool factor: Renewable Properties developed the projects for the Illinois Shines program. They include the 7 MW Highway 20 Solar project located in Kane County, Illinois, and the 4 MW Deep Lake project located in the Village of Antioch. Currently in the advanced stages of construction, the Highway 20 Solar is expected to be operational by Q2 2025. The Deep Lake array is projected to be serving consumers who subscribe to the Illinois Shines program by the end of 2026. When this portfolio is operational, the two projects will generate a combined 17,300 MWh annually, the equivalent electricity use of 2,615 average Illinois homes.
Radiance Solar, SolAmerica to deliver 2.86 MW solar array in Illinois
Radiance Solar and SolAmerica Energy are launching the Stephenson S1 Solar Project, a 2.86 MW community solar project in Freeport, Illinois. This project marks the beginning of a partnership between the two solar companies and reinforces Radiance Solar and SolAmerica’s commitment to expanding renewable energy access in Illinois. This will be Radiance’s 26th community solar project in Illinois, affirming their leading position in the community solar industry within the state.
“The Stephenson Solar Project is not just another installation,” said Steve Newby, CEO of Radiance Solar. “It represents a long-term commitment to delivering high-quality, impactful solar solutions in Illinois. Having completed over 20 solar projects in the state, we are dedicated to expanding distributed energy infrastructure and supporting local energy resilience.
Cool factor: The Stephenson S1 Project will be powered by American-made panels from First Solar, providing clean, reliable power to the local grid in support of Illinois’ transition to a more sustainable energy future. By harnessing solar energy at scale, the project aligns with state and national clean energy goals while offering economic and environmental benefits to the Freeport community. The project is expected to produce 4,155 MWh of electricity annually, reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 463 cars off the road or powering 234 homes per year.
Lifetech Resources unveils 599.5W rooftop solar system
Lifetech Resources unveiled its new rooftop solar energy system, marking a significant step in the company’s journey toward sustainability and environmental responsibility. The company held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its headquarters in Moorpark, California, bringing together community members, stakeholders and media representatives to celebrate the milestone.
Cool factor: The newly installed Solar Power Energy System features 1,090 high-efficiency monocrystalline panels with a capacity of 599.5 kW, generating 948,465 kWh annually. This clean energy output will offset 7,918.56 tons of CO2 emissions each year—the equivalent of removing 42 cars from the road annually or conserving 18,330 barrels of oil.
Duke Energy Florida plans four new solar energy sites
Duke Energy Florida has submitted plans to state regulators to build four new solar energy facilities, adding 300 MW to the electricity grid. The company submitted its 2025 Solar Base Rate Adjustment (SoBRA) filing to the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC), outlining its plans for the solar energy sites.
“At Duke Energy Florida, we work every day to modernize and strengthen our generation fleet,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “Solar energy is an innovative, cost-effective and clean solution we continue to implement on behalf of our customers all across the Sunshine State.”
Cool factor: In accordance with Duke Energy Florida’s settlement agreement, which was approved by the FPSC in August 2024, the company is investing more than $521 million to establish solar sites in Madison County (Sundance Renewable Energy Center), Sumter County (Half Moon Renewable Energy Center), Hernando County (Rattler Renewable Energy Center) and Jefferson County (Bailey Mill Renewable Energy Center). All together, these sites are expected to save customers $843 million over their service lifetimes.
To date, the company has broken ground on the Sundance, Half Moon and Rattler renewable energy centers, all of which will be in service by January 2026. Bailey Mill Renewable Energy Center is continuing through the permitting process with the goal of starting construction in the summer of 2025, allowing for it to come online by the summer of 2026. During construction, each solar site will create an average of 150 temporary jobs, and when completed, they will add nearly 300 MW to the electric grid. At peak output, each of the four 74.9 MW solar sites will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of approximately 23,000 homes.
Tags: commercial and industrial, Community Solar, utility-scale
