Contrary to what might be popular belief, a solar array can still harness some power even on a rainy day like today. Nevertheless, the crew from Indiana Michigan Power Company would have liked to enjoy a day more like our Memorial Day weather back on Monday for their formal ground breaking ceremonies today near Watervliet. Despite a steady drizzle, however, the ceremonies were carried out this afternoon and the 35-acre site will eventually sport more than 50,000 solar panels and generate up to 4.6-megawatts of emission-free energy east of Watervliet.
I&M President & Chief Operating Officer Paul Chodak III was joined in turning some earth by Berrien County Commissioner Bill Smith, Mike Koralewski from First Solar, and Robert Jackson, Regional/National Response Director for the Michigan Agency for Energy alongside an I&M substation already positioned along Red Arrow Highway east of the city.
This facility will be the first solar power plant in Michigan for I&M, which is an operating unit of American Electric Power. The new facility, when complete, is expected to generate energy equivalent to powering about 650 homes annually.
Chodak told a small crowd gathered under a tent today that I&M is pleased to add solar power to its fleet of emission-free generation sources in Michigan. He said, "Four decades after our Cook Nuclear Plant began generating carbon-free energy in Michigan, this solar power plant is part of a pilot project that will play a significant role in I&M's use of the sun to provide energy. I&M already uses wind, water and nuclear energy to generate half of our power, and solar is yet another emission-free energy source."
Chodak also thanked the Watervliet community for welcoming the array, saying, "Growing solar energy and harvesting the sun in the same manner that this land was once used to harvest crops is an innovative use of the property."
The forthcoming Watervliet plant is one of four solar power generation plants in I&M's Clean Energy Solar Pilot Project. the Deer Creek plant near Marion, Indiana has been operational since late last year. Construction has already begun at the Twin Branch and Olive Plants, both in St. Joseph County, Indiana. All three will be generating energy for customers by the end of 2016.
Together, the four plants will have the capacity to generate about 15 megawatts of energy and have the ability to power the equivalent of 2,000 homes. I&M has contracted with First Solar, Inc., a global leader in photovoltaic solar energy solutions, to build the three regional plants.
County Commissioner Smith told the crowd, "It's always good to see great things happening in North Berrien, and we are happy to be the first in Michigan. This will be a great fit."
Michigan Agency for Energy's Jackson thanked I&M for helping "get Michigan to the 35-percent level of power coming from renewable resources" and bringing energy efficiency to the state.
First Solar's Koralewski called the project "another stepping stone" toward increased renewable energy sources and "a financially sound decision to make with competing prices to those being commanded by fossil fuel sources."
Paul Chodak, Bill Smith, Robert Jackson and Mike Koralewski break ground near Watervliet
Paul Chodak explains the solar array project to reporters
