Clarke Electric Cooperative is part of Central Iowa Power Cooperative’s (CIPCO) utility-scale solar project which is the largest in the state.
The Clarke Solar Farm Project will generate 514,160 kWh of energy as a part of CIPCO’s 5.5MW solar project. Once complete, the Clarke Solar Farm Project generation facility will contain 1,296 solar panels and generate enough electricity to power up to 51 homes.
In late 2015, CIPCO initiated an RFP for the development of utility-scale solar facilities to be located at several member cooperative sites in Iowa. The multi-site solar installation is the first phase in CIPCO’s long-term plan to incorporate solar as an additional emissions and carbon-free resource within its generation assets.
“Clarke Electric Cooperative is pleased to partner on this new generation project,” said general manager David Opie. “Supporting the further development of emissions and carbon-free electricity, where it makes economic sense, can benefit our members. The information collected and compiled from the solar farm will provide valuable information and experience for future application.”
Utility-scale solar provides reliable, clean electricity generation for members of Clarke Electric Cooperative and compliments CIPCO’s existing renewable energy generation portfolio.
The development and installation costs for utility-scale systems are significantly below those of residential-scale solar and provide benefits to all members within the system. Members of all income levels will be benefiting from this project.
“CIPCO is committed to providing environmentally friendly sources of energy to our members across the state,” said CEO Dennis Murdock. “Over half of the energy generated by CIPCO is emissions and carbon-free, and the addition of solar resources continues our commitment to providing a well-balanced generation portfolio.”
CIPCO selected Azimuth Energy LLC of St. Louis, Missouri, to install the photovoltaic utility-scale solar project. Azimuth Energy LLC is an engineering, construction and development-support service company focused on renewable energy and energy efficient projects.
Clarke Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, electric distribution cooperative that provides power to portions of eight counties in south central Iowa. The cooperative is committed to providing safe, reliable and affordable power to more than 5,000 residential, commercial and industrial members.
CIPCO is Iowa’s largest cooperative energy provider serving 13 electric cooperatives and associations spanning 58 of Iowa’s 99 counties.
CIPCO is a generation and transmission cooperative supplying power to its member distribution cooperatives covering a territory which stretches 300 miles diagonally across the state from the Mississippi River on the east to Shenandoah in the southwest.
CIPCO supplies all power requirements for its member cooperatives, and as their power provider, CIPCO is dedicated to delivering quality, safe and reliable service at the lowest possible cost.