Arkansas-based Scenic Hill Solar will soon break ground on the fourth-largest higher education solar project portfolio in the United States. These 18 solar arrays will serve the schools in the University of Arkansas (UA) System
University of Arkansas
The first four solar power plants will be located in Stuttgart, Mena, De Queen and Fayetteville. The solar services agreement was announced in April 2023 and will provide solar electricity for most of UA System campuses, divisions and units. These projects will cover more than $125 million in energy cost savings over the next 25 years for the university, which has more than 70,000 students and 27,000 employees across its 21 campuses.
“We see renewable energy efforts not only as a responsibility of an organization as large as the UA System — we stand to realize more than $125 million in savings due to this effort that can be reinvested into student success initiatives and other crucial expenditures — but also as a means to carve a new path forward for all Arkansans by viewing this industry as an educational tool that can have very real economic impacts,” said Jay B. Silveria, UA System president. “This project shows the long-term potential of Arkansas’ advanced energy economy and the opportunities for workforce training that the UA System is focused on providing the State and nation.”
Scenic Hill Solar will soon start construction on PV projects in the following locations:
- Mena, 6,440 kWDC, benefitting the University of Arkansas Community College at Rich Mountain, Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, University of Arkansas – Division of Agriculture.
- De Queen, 550 kWDC, benefitting the Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas.
- Fayetteville, 650 kWDC benefitting the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
- Stuttgart, 600 kWDC, benefitting University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, the University of Arkansas – Division of Agriculture, Garvin Woodland Gardens, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Arkansas School for Mathematics Science and the Arts, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences – Little Rock, University of Arkansas at Monticello, University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton, Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Arkansas Research & Education Optical Network, University of Arkansas Community College at Rich Mountain, University of Arkansas System – Cammack Campus.
“We are excited to break ground at four solar power plant sites across all regions of Arkansas,” said Bill Halter, CEO of Scenic Hill Solar. “These, the first of 18 solar power plants to be built, owned and operated by Scenic Hill Solar, will provide electricity savings and price stability for the University of Arkansas as well as providing over $125 million of capital investment in rural areas across the ‘Natural State.’ We are also delighted that an Arkansas headquartered bank, Stone Bank, is providing the tax equity capital for 3 of these 4 solar power plants.”
Scenic Hill Solar’s plants will generate over 4 billion kWh of clean electricity during the expected 40-year life of the solar power plants. All 18 solar power plants will be constructed over the next year and half. Interconnection payments have been made for all 18 locations, solar modules have been safe-harbored and land purchase contracts and leases have been executed.
News item from Scenic Hill Solar
