At a sunny 84 degrees, June 17, 2019 seemed a perfect day for Sunflower Electric Power Corporation and Mid-Kansas Electric Company to celebrate the groundbreaking of the 20-MegaWatt Johnson Corner Solar Project. Both companies are member-owned by six Kansas cooperatives, including Prairie Land Electric Cooperative, Inc.
A 25-year power purchase agreement was made with Lightsource BP, an independent power producer that will build, own and operate the solar facility. The facility will be located approximately two miles southwest of Johnson City, Kansas. There will be 77,000 panels measuring 4 feet x 6 feet on the over 200 acres used for the project. The panels are expected to last from 25-30 years.
U.S. First District Congressman Roger Marshall, dignitaries from Mid-Kansas, Sunflower, Lightsource BP and the National Renewables Cooperative Organization, and guests attended the event at the Stanton County 4-H Building in Johnson City, Kansas. Two trustees for Prairie Land Electric Cooperative, Inc. were in attendance: Jerry Gallagher of Concordia and Eric Witmer of Phillipsburg. Gallagher is also a director on the Sunflower Electric Power Corporation board.
“The Johnson Corner Solar Project will be the largest solar project in Kansas, and that’s definitely something to celebrate,” said U.S. Rep. Roger MarshalI. “I congratulate Sunflower, Mid-Kansas, Lightsource BP, and NRCO on their successful collaboration to launch this project.”
The solar project will add another fuel source to Sunflower’s and Mid-Kansas’ generation portfolio that already includes natural gas, coal, wind, and a small amount of hydro-electric power.
“The solar project is an example of fuel diversification to generate electricity,” said Steve Epperson, Mid-Kansas chairman of the board and Sunflower board member. “As locally elected boards of directors, we have a responsibility to employ the right combination of traditional and renewable generation resources that protect both the affordability and reliability of electricity.”
The facility will produce approximately 55,500 megawatt hours annually, comprising one percent of the Mid-Kansas and Sunflower combined-system’s energy.
“Our system is summer peaking, which means energy demand is highest during those months,” said Stuart Lowry, president and CEO of Mid-Kansas and Sunflower. “In contrast to wind facilities, which generate the most energy during winter night hours, this project will generate energy on hot, summer days, providing protection against high market prices during those times.”
Locating the solar facility at Sunflower’s Johnson Corner Substation will also reduce loading on an area transmission line that is importing energy at its full capacity and would require expensive upgrades without the local energy injection provided by the future Johnson Corner Solar Project.
“This project is coming at a critical time, when it’s really needed,” explained Gallagher. “Each panel is dual-sided so energy can be created from the reflected light as well as direct sunlight.”
Construction will begin in August, and the facility is scheduled to be energized in the first quarter of 2020.
Photo Caption: The groundbreaking of the Johnson Corner Solar Project was celebrated on June 17, 2019. Sunflower Electric Power Corporation and its sister company, Mid-Kansas Electric Company, cooperatively-operated wholesale generation and transmission utilities, have signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with Lightsource BP, an independent power producer, that will build, own and operate the solar facility.
Pictured (l-r): Kevin Christy, COO North America at Lightsource BP; Rep. Martin Long (R-Ulysses); Clare Gustin, Sunflower vice-president member services & external affairs of Sunflower and Mid-Kansas; Corey Linville Sunflower vice-president power supply & delivery of Sunflower and Mid-Kansas; Wes Campbell, Sunflower board chairman; U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas); Stuart Lowry, president and CEO of Sunflower and Mid-Kansas; Stephen Epperson, Mid-Kansas board chairman; Kyle Nelson, COO of Sunflower and Mid-Kansas; Sen. John Doll (R-Garden City); Todd Bartling vice-president of renewables development for National Renewables Cooperative Organization.