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Sedgwick County Electric Cooperative dedicated two sun farms in Sedgwick County, with a flip of the switch today. The sun farms are intended to minimize the cooperative’s peak demand and maintain stable rates for its members.
Originally announced in November of 2020, Sedgwick County Electric Cooperative’s two solar farms were formally linked to the grid by Today’s Power Inc. (TPI) of North Little Rock, Arkansas. These sun farms are among the first of the 22 systems to be built as part of the Kansas Cooperative Sun Power Program (KCSPP), a TPI solar power services agreement program that ensures low-cost renewable energy to 12 participating Kansas electric cooperatives.
Both of Sedgwick County Electric Cooperative’s sun farms were customized in the design process to maximize output during the cooperative’s peak demand hours, when power is most expensive. These factors will all help Sedgwick County Electric Cooperative control power costs and keep power affordable for their members. Along with the other participating Kansas electric cooperatives, Sedgwick County Electric Cooperative negotiated very competitive long-term pricing.
Michael Henderson, President of TPI said, “we are very excited to partner with Sedgwick County Electric Cooperative on this project. I have spent my career serving electric cooperative members and having able to provide direct, quantifiable savings through projects like KCSPP is very gratifying.” He went on to say, “the leadership of Sedgwick County Electric should be commended for their forward-thinking efforts in serving their members.”
Incorporating solar into our portfolio is another way our member-owners can benefit, by reducing electrical usage during our peak demand months. A major portion of our annual wholesale power bill is based on power consumed during June thru September, when temperatures are above 95 degrees. As an Electric Cooperative owned by the people we serve, it is our job to do our part to make a difference at home and for the greater good of our members said Scott Ayres, Sedgwick County Electric Cooperative’s General Manager/CEO.
TPI was chosen by Kansas Cooperative Sun Power Program consisting of 12 Kansas Electric Cooperatives, in 2020 to provide solar-produced power for cooperative use. Work on the two sun farms began in early 2021 and was completed in May 2021, after all regulatory and engineering approvals were issued. For the length of the 25-year-or-more agreement, the cooperative will purchase electricity generated by the sun farms at a fixed-low cost. TPI owns and operates and own 100% of the solar array.
SEDGWICK COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE SUN FARM STATISTICS:
Location: CHENEY, KANSAS
Size: 1.42-Megawatt (MW) DC / 1 MW AC
Modules: 3,450 Solar Modules
Racking: Single-Axis Sun Tracking Technology
Inversion: 8 125 kW String Inverters
SEDGWICK COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE SUN FARM STATISTICS:
Location: MAIZE, KANSAS
Size: 1.42-Megawatt (MW) DC / 1 MW AC
Modules: 3,450 Solar Modules
Racking: Single-Axis Sun Tracking Technology
Inversion: 8 125 kW String Inverters
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More Information:
This opportunity to participate in the Kansas Cooperative Sun Power Program began when the wholesale power contract between all participating cooperatives and their forward-thinking generation and transmission cooperative, Kansas Electric Power Cooperatives, was recently modified to provide Kansas electric cooperatives with the ability to self-procure up to 15% of peak demand – with 5% of that amount specifically allowing for the addition of solar.
Using the sixth cooperative principle of cooperation among cooperatives, twelve cooperatives in Kansas are joining together to make a small investment for the next 25 years or more in the harvesting of sunshine. Participating electric cooperatives will be able to procure low-up-front cost solar energy to serve their membership through the Kansas Cooperative Sun Power Program and reduce their peak demand.
About Today’s Power, Inc.
Today’s Power, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (AECI), a Little Rock-based utility service cooperative owned by 17 Arkansas electric distribution cooperatives. Today’s Power, Inc. offers turn-key solar photovoltaic systems, energy storage systems, electric vehicles and charging stations for all sizes and applications.
TPI’s unique approach to in-depth analysis of utility rates and billing allows it to design renewable energy systems and manage that energy to maximize the benefits of solar and storage for not-for-profit as well as for-profit entities.
For more information:
Jennah Denney – Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator – Today’s Power, Inc. 501-400-5548 or jdenney@todayspower.com
About Sedgwick County Electric Cooperative
On November 10, 1937, 21 men of Sedgwick County signed the Articles of Incorporation for a rural electric company. We currently have 20 employees, over 6952 services, over 5,900 members, approximately 1,175 miles of energized lines, 9 substations and over 142 million kWh sold yearly.
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