Silicon Ranch, a community-focused renewable energy company, and Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC), a distribution cooperative, have completed the 20 MWAC McNeal Solar Farm, including an 80 MWh battery energy storage system, to help SSVEC meet increasing load demand and power requirements of more than 3,000 households across southeastern Arizona.
“The McNeal solar and battery storage project allows SSVEC to increase the amount of affordable, renewable energy for our members while supporting system reliability and promoting energy independence.," said SSVEC CEO Jason Bowling. "Providing our members with safe, reliable, and affordable power is our number one priority, and our new partnership with Silicon Ranch helps us deliver this important mission to benefit our members and the communities we serve.”
Silicon Ranch has invested more than $70 million to install the McNeal Solar Farm, which will generate significant new tax revenues for Cochise County to support local infrastructure and schools, among other community-identified tasks.
The solar-plus-storage project site not only includes a new substation, which has replaced an existing facility serving SSVEC members in the area, but also features an interconnection infrastructure for the project. The facilities interconnect the McNeal Solar Farm with the grid enabling SSVEC to distribute the solar energy to homes and businesses across its system.
The solar farm project was developed and funded by Silicon Ranch, which will also be its long-term owner and operator. The company appointed more than 140 craft workers to construct the facility.
