EDP Renewables North America LLC (EDPR NA), a leading renewable energy developer and a top five renewable energy operator in the United States, celebrates the inauguration of Pearl River Solar Park (Pearl River) in Scott County, Mississippi. Located in the northwest corner of the county, Pearl River has an installed capacity of 210 MWp (175 MWac), producing enough power to meet the energy needs of more than 27,000 average Mississippi homes. The project is comprised of 400,000 monofacial and bifacial tracking photovoltaic panels contributing clean, cost-competitive power to the state’s electric grid. It also marks EDPR NA’s official entry into Mississippi.
Pearl River will provide more than $50 million in payments to local governments throughout its operating life, benefiting schools, healthcare facilities, fire departments, and other county services. Pearl River created hundreds of construction jobs and two permanent jobs to provide for the facility’s upkeep.
This project will directly support Mississippi’s sustainability efforts by saving the state more than 222 million gallons of water each year and displacing carbon emissions from fossil fuel generation. In addition, Pearl River will continue to invest in the Scott County community through several environmental-focused initiatives. According to market data from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the project is the largest solar park to date in Mississippi.
Pearl River’s development team has participated in the Pearl River Clean Sweep for two years in a row, supporting the annual clean-up of the Pearl River watershed. This past year, they helped remove approximately 400 pounds of trash collected from the river in a bid to help revitalize Mississippi’s natural landscape. In February, the Pearl River team participated in an interactive career fair for fifth-graders from Highland Elementary in Ridgeland, meeting with more than 200 students to discuss careers in renewables.
This past July, Pearl River sponsored the U.S. Rep. G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Bass Classic fishing competition, benefitting the Catch-A-Dream Foundation on the Ross Barnett Reservoir. The Catch-A-Dream Foundation is a Make-A-Wish-type organization that offers special outdoor adventures to youth with life-threatening conditions.
“Pearl River Solar Park is an important part of the state’s growing clean energy portfolio, and we are proud to have them in Scott County, contributing to the economic development of the region. Furthermore, the EDPR NA team continues to demonstrate their commitment to fostering high-impact community relationships,” said former Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Brent Bailey.
“We are thrilled to finally see Pearl River begin operations. Solar power is a win-win in Mississippi, as it accelerates the deployment of clean energy to the grid and contributes to the state’s decarbonization objectives. The project will immediately go to work to provide Mississippi with a readily available clean energy resource,” stated Sandhya Ganapathy, CEO of EDPR NA.
Pearl River establishes EDPR NA’s relationship with Mississippi communities and deepens its ties with the state. A second project under development, Ragsdale Solar Park (Ragsdale) in Canton, Mississippi, will provide over $36 million to local governments and $15 million to landowners over the course of its lifespan once it becomes operational. Ragsdale will generate 100 MW of energy, equivalent to the consumption of 15,000 average Mississippi homes. It created over 100 construction jobs and will create 3 permanent jobs once operational.
