$80 million solar farm gets green light and could provide 300 jobs in Hancock County
An $80 million solar facility was approved for Hancock County and now will go through a site selection process.
The go-ahead from the Public Service Commission on Tuesday allows the developers of Moonshot Solar project to move forward with a construction plan.
It also gives the developer of the 78.5 megawatt electric generating station the authority to deliver wholesale power directly to the Mississippi Power/Southern Company transmission grid.
The solar farm will bring 300 construction jobs for a year while it’s being built, as well as five permanent jobs.
Moonshot Solar project is designed to provide renewable energy to Mississippi customers for 35 years of useful life.
“I’m pleased to see this project move forward and the opportunity it presents to Hancock County,” said Dean Maxwell, chairman of the PSC. ”The Moonshot project will provide direct and indirect economic benefits to the state, county and surrounding areas in the form of taxes — sales and ad valorem — jobs, and other related impact.”
The facility that’s been in talks since 2017 is being developed by Pine Gate Renewables in partnership with Birch Creek Development. Pine Gate operates many solar projects throughout the Southeast U.S.
This story was originally published August 5, 2020 at 5:40 AM.
