Entergy Arkansas has announced that the 100-MW Walnut Bend Solar Energy Center in Lee County, Arkansas is commercially operational. The solar project was developed, engineered and constructed by clean energy developer Invenergy before being acquired by Entergy Arkansas.
Walnut Bend Solar Project to Power 61,000 Homes
Walnut Bend marks Invenergy's first solar project developed in Arkansas. The new facility incorporates advanced bifacial solar panels and sun-tracking systems that enhance energy production by capturing sunlight from both sides and adjusting their tilt to follow the sun throughout the day, generating enough electricity to power 61,000 homes.
The new facility generating enough electricity to power 61,000 homes in Arkansas.
“Walnut Bend will be a valuable addition to our generation fleet, which in turn, complements our diverse mix of generation sources that have been powering life in Arkansas for more than 100 years. Our investments in these generation resources are a key part of keeping the rates our customers pay below the regional and national averages and enable us to provide reliable, affordable and sustainable service to our customers throughout the state.” said Laura Landreaux, Entergy Arkansas President and CEO.
Walnut Bend to Generate $700,000 in Annual Property Taxes
Entergy Arkansas stated that the Walnut Bend facility is expected to generate approximately $700,000 in annual property taxes for Lee County. The total investment exceeds $300 million, yielding net customer benefits of over $170 million throughout the lifespan of the facilities.
“I am pleased to welcome Walnut Bend Solar to my district. This facility represents a significant investment in Lee County that will provide economic benefits locally and throughout Arkansas.” said Ron Caldwell, Arkansas Senator District 10.
“Walnut Bend Solar is a great addition to my district. The facility will generate economic benefits for Lee County and the surrounding communities. This investment will strengthen our communities and help support economic development that will be good for Arkansas.” said Mark McElroy, Arkansas District 62 Representative.
Entergy Arkansas Expands Solar Portfolio with New Projects
Walnut Bend is the fourth solar project that Entergy Arkansas has put into operation, providing renewable, emission-free solar power for all its customers. The other facilities include the 81-MW Stuttgart Solar, the 100-MW Chico Solar project in Lake Village and the 100-MW Searcy Solar. Together, these four facilities will generate a total of 381 megawatts of power for Entergy Arkansas customers.
Later this year, Entergy Arkansas will launch an additional 430 MW of solar power facilities, including West Memphis (180 MW) and Driver (250 MW), both of which it will own and operate. Additionally, two more solar projects are scheduled to come online in 2025: Flat Fork (200 MW) and Forgeview (200 MW) which will supply energy and capacity to Entergy Arkansas through long-term power purchase agreements.
“Walnut Bend is another example of Invenergy’s successful track record of building clean energy solutions, and we are proud to support Entergy’s growing solar power portfolio. We are grateful to the Lee County community for their partnership, and we look forward to continuing to develop projects in Arkansas to meet the state’s energy needs and invest in local communities.” said Mick Baird, Chief Development Officer at Invenergy.