Construction of the massive Copperhead Solar & Storage Project (150-MW and 100 MWh) in Falls County, Texas, is underway and has a big corporate buyer. During the groundbreaking event, National Grid Renewables, announced a 140 MW Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with The Hershey Company for Copperhead.
This is the second PPA between The Hershey Company and National Grid Renewables after The Hershey Company’s Noble solar PPA was announced in 2021. Edison Energy, a global sustainability and energy advisory firm, worked with The Hershey Company on its environmental initiatives and selection of National Grid Renewables’ Copperhead.
“We have ambitious goals to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by more than 50 percent and Scope 3 emissions by 25 percent by 2030 as part of our science-based targets,” said Mark Kline, Director, Commodities and Specialty Procurement at The Hershey Company. “We’re making great progress toward achieving those goals thanks to projects like Copperhead and the great work of National Grid Renewables.”
Copperhead will utilize next-generation Series 6 thin film solar modules developed and produced by First Solar and a 100 MWh Fluence Gridstack battery energy storage system by Fluence Energy, Inc., and is being constructed by EPC contractor TIC—The Industrial Company, a subsidiary of Kiewit.
Copperhead is projected to produce an estimated $25 million in direct economic impact throughout its first 25 years of operation, including the production of new tax revenue, onsite operations jobs, and the creation of a charitable fund estimated at $600,000.
“Projects like Copperhead promote sustainability and economic vitality at both global and local levels,” stated Blake Nixon, President for National Grid Renewables. “Communities like those in the Falls County, Texas area can anticipate economic benefits for years to come as a result of welcoming renewable energy projects.”
As announced in its recently released ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Report, Hershey is on track to achieve its greenhouse gas emissions targets, having reported a 48 percent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions against a 2018 baseline and a 18% reduction in Scope 3. The company’s investment in three solar farm projects – two of which are through National Grid Renewables – plays a large role in the progress thus far.
“We are proud to be a part of the Copperhead Solar & Storage Project and ready to get to work in designing and building the system,” said Mike Gammill, Vice President of Solar Operations for TIC. “National Grid Renewables is making tremendous strides in advancing solar power generation, bringing a clean, reliable energy source to Falls County, Texas that will have a positive lasting impact on the community.”
Tags: utility-scale
