Starting in 2017, Farmers RECC members will be able to license solar panels for their home or business from a solar farm located in Clark County, Ky.
Next spring, Farmers RECC’s generation and transmission utility, East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC), will begin installing 32,300 solar panels on 60 acres of the property at its headquarters facility, adjacent to Interstate 64 east of Lexington. The solar farm, one of the largest in Kentucky, is expected to begin generating electricity later in 2017.
Farmers RECC plans to license solar panels to members, who will receive credit on their electric bills for their share of energy produced. The arrangement is known as Cooperative Solar.
With a one-time payment of $460 per panel, participants will receive the benefits of renewable energy for the next 25 years without having to install or maintain facilities on their own property. Their monthly electric bills will be credited for the value of the energy and capacity associated with their licensed share of the solar farm.
To learn more, visit www.CooperativeSolar.com.
Before Farmers RECC can sell Cooperative Solar licenses, the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) must approve tariffs under which the transactions can take place. It is expected the co-ops will begin selling 25-year licenses in the next several months.