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Schools Hail Savings From Entergy Solar Power Option

2 min read

Entergy Arkansas’ program selling solar power to schools, towns, cities and nonprofits is already giving electricity savings to 61 subscribing customers, including 26 Arkansas public school systems, the company reported on Thursday.

The solar program, known as Solar Energy Purchase Option B, or SEPO-B, is limited by state regulatory policy to selling 40.5Mw of power, for now. That was computed as half of the capacity of Entergy’s Stuttgart Solar plant, which has 81Mw of capacity. The program could expand as more solar energy comes online at the power company, Arkansas’ largest with more than 700,000 meters.

Since the Arkansas Public Service Commission set a half-of-solar capacity limit on SEPO-B last year, Entergy has plugged in a 100-Mw solar station near Lake Village, Chicot Solar, and similar plants are under construction: Searcy Solar in White County and Walnut Bend in Lee County near Brinkley.

Entergy executive Kurt Castleberry told Arkansas Business on Tuesday that the power company is looking to add more solar energy, which could soon supply 10% of Entergy Arkansas’ resource mix. “In our testimonies before the commission, we provide support demonstrating that these solar acquisitions are highly economic resources that will provide significant benefits for customers,” Castleberry said.

The 26 schools in SEPO-B stand to save $39 million over 18 years, Entergy said in a news release. The other 35 tax-exempt entities in the program are in line to save nearly $21 million.

Superintendent Robby Lowe of the Junction City School District in Union County said in the release that his system’s monthly energy bill is “$2,000 less than the same time the year before,” adding that the SEPO program “is quickly saving us significant money.” Annual savings are expected to top $35,000 for the 670-student district.

Other schools in the program are Bergman, Bismarck, Blytheville, Bryant, Dawson, Drew, Flippin, Glen Rose, Gosnell, Harrisburg, Harrison, Hermitage, Jessieville, Lawrence County, Magnolia, Manila, Mountain Home, Parker, Pottsville, Poyen, Valley Springs and Yellville-Summit.

Jessieville Superintendent Melissa Speers said in a statement that sometimes serving the school system comes down to basic math. “Jessieville School District will save a little over $50,000 each year, which can be used in other ways to support our students, from better science labs to more field trips. We’re happy to subscribe to an option that’s a good investment for the planet, and for our children.”

The option, which was approved by the commission in September, enrolled subscribers on a first come, first served basis. Entergy has more than 60 potential subscribers on a waiting list, the utility said.

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