One of the biggest solar and battery storage projects built under TVA’s green power program has started producing power in Mississippi to help supply renewable power for both local power companies in Tennessee and Mississippi, as well as one of Meta’s data centers.
Orgis Energy said Wednesday the first 150-megawatt solar farm and 50-megawatt battery storage facility portion of the planned 550-megawatt project is now generating electricity from a new solar farm erected in northern Mississippi. When the entire project is completed next year, the Golden Triangle II project will be the largest battery storage operation in Mississippi and one of the biggest solar generating facilities in the Tennessee Valley.
“Golden Triangle II is the first step in fostering a zero-carbon economy across the state that supports our nation’s economic and energy security goals,” Johan Vanhee, chief commercial and development officer for Orgis, said in a statement Wednesday.
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Orgis is developing, owning and operating the new solar and battery storage facility and will sell its power to Knoxville Utilities Board, the city of Starkville, Mississippi, and Meta distributed through the Tennessee Valley Authority. Under the terms of the agreement, the power users will pay for the renewable power and TVA’s other customers will not fund the project, TVA spokesperson Scott Fiedler said in a news release.