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Solar energy center open in Aiken County

Staff Report //November 18, 2019//

Solar energy center open in Aiken County

Staff Report //November 18, 2019//

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NextEra Energy Resources announced Monday its Shaw Creek Solar Energy Center has begun operations.

The 560-acre solar energy center is about 15 miles northwest of Aiken. It took 10 months to build, with more than a dozen Aiken-area vendors providing crews and materials to build the facility. It contains more than 270,000 photovoltaic solar panels that track the movement of the sun.

The solar energy center has the capacity to generate 74.9 megawatts of electricity, according to a news release. NextEra anticipates the Shaw Creek Solar Energy Center will generate nearly $9 million in new tax revenue for Aiken County.

“This solar project will generate cost-effective, home-grown, clean energy for South Carolina and provide significant tax revenue to Aiken County for years to come,” said Matt Handel, vice president of development for NextEra Energy Resources.

Florida-based NextEra is one of several suitors which have submitted a bid to purchase state-owned Santee Cooper.