The Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved a proposal by Big Rivers Electric Corp. to build seven small solar power facilities across its service territory.

In its application to the PSC, Big Rivers said the facilities would be used to test how well solar power can be integrated into the utility’s grid and also would serve to educate the public about solar energy.

The PSC, in an order issued today, found that building and operating the solar facilities would have no adverse impact on the operations or financial condition of Big Rivers. The PSC noted that Big Rivers is responding to requests from customers that the utility develop solar power programs.

Big Rivers is owned by and provides power to three electric distribution cooperatives: Jackson Purchase Energy Corp., Kenergy Corp. and Meade County Rural Electric Cooperative Corp. (Meade RECC). Together, the three cooperatives serve about 114,000 customers in 22 counties in western Kentucky.

The seven solar facilities, with an aggregate output of 120 kilowatts (kW), will be located at schools, parks or other public facilities, where they will be readily visible. The seven sites, with their generating capacity and cooperative, are:

• Livingston County Middle School, Burna – 10 kW – Jackson Purchase Energy
• McCracken County High School, Paducah – 10 kW – Jackson Purchase Energy
• Mike Miller Park, Benton – 10 kW – Jackson Purchase Energy
• Kenergy offices, Henderson and Owensboro – 30 kW each – Kenergy
• Meade RECC offices, Brandenburg – 20 kW; and Hardinsburg – 10 kW – Meade RECC

The total cost of the facilities is estimated at $500,000. Big Rivers said it will pay for the facilities out of its cash reserves and hopes to recoup $125,000 of the cost through a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program.

LOUISVILLE, Ky — Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives (KAEC) President and CEO Chris Perry issued the following statement on President Trump’s executive order on the Clean Power Plan:

“Kentucky’s member-owned electric cooperatives are committed to the communities we serve. Our mission to deliver safe, reliable and affordable electricity to more than 1.5 million Kentuckians was threatened by the Clean Power Plan, and we are grateful to the Trump administration working to protect Kentucky families and businesses with today’s executive order.

“While we are hopeful that this development will help prevent further damage to Kentucky’s economy, many of our communities are already suffering from the cumulative toll of existing policies.  We look forward to the EPA both undoing this rule and taking a closer look at other current regulations.

“If implemented, the CPP would have forced member co-ops to prematurely shutter existing power plants. Those co-ops would in essence be charged twice for their electricity—once to continue paying down the loans on the closed power plants and again for the cost of purchasing replacement power.”

In 2013, Kentucky had the 3rd most electricity-intensive economy in the U.S., based on electricity consumption per state GDP dollar.  Kentucky has lost one-quarter of its manufacturing jobs since 2000.  The Kentucky Energy & Environment Cabinet estimates a ten percent increase in the cost of electricity would trigger a loss in Kentucky of almost $2 billion GDP.

“Today’s announcement is an important step toward protecting Kentuckians from the costly impacts of the CPP as co-ops continue innovating and moving toward cleaner energy production. We look forward to working with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and the Trump administration to advance our common goals and improve the lives of every rural American.”