🎥 Largest solar project in KS to be built by Sunflower, Mid-Kansas Electric

A simulation of the Johnson Corner Solar Project near Johnson in southwest Kansas.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

It will be the largest commercial solar project in Kansas, with 86,000 solar panels spread across 241 acres, to be built in far southwest Kansas.

It will also provide the first solar energy generation for Hays-based Mid-Kansas Electric Company, Inc. and its sister company Sunflower Electric Power Corporation.

Officials from both cooperatives announced the Johnson Corner Solar Project Tuesday in Hays. Construction on the 20-megawatt facility will start early next year.

The project will utilize approximately 86,000 solar panels across 241 acres.

“The location of two miles southwest of Johnson City was selected not only for its strong generating potential with some of the best solar irradiation in the Midwest but also because it will reduce loading on an existing transmission line that is currently operating at or near its full capacity,” said Stuart Lowry, president and CEO of both cooperatives. “This will potentially defer or eliminate a costly transmission upgrade that would otherwise be needed in the near future, great news for electric ratepayers as it represents a savings for them.”

Stuart Lowry, pres. and CEO of Mid-Kansas and Sunflower Electric cooperatives, talks about the new Johnson Corner Solar Project.

The facility’s location was also a “compelling reason” to move forward with the Johnson Corner Solar project, Lowry said.

“This location has some of the best solar irradiance in the Midwest.”

Mid-Kansas has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with Lightsource BP, an independent power producer that will build, own and operate the solar facility.

“I think Johnson Corner is going to get a lot of positive attention in the cooperative utility community,” predicted Kevin Christy, chief operating officer of Lightsource BP. The project will use single-axis trackers that track the sun as it moves from east to west throughout the day. “Work is now in its design-engineering-financing stages,” Christy told the crowd, “with the timeline to kick off construction by the beginning of next year which will take a few months to complete.”

The National Renewable Cooperative Organization (NRCO) with its member-owner Mid-Kansas, jointly developed the project and chose Lightsource BP as Mid-Kansas’ long-term partner.

“NRCO is thrilled to have achieved the Sunflower vision of having a solar project in its Kansas territory and engage with Lightsource BP to reach this tremendous milestone,” said Eric Spigelman, director of renewables development for NRCO.

The Mid-Kansas and Sunflower system is a summer-peaking system, according to Lowry. Most electricity is consumed during the hottest days of the summer.

“Wind energy tends to be the most abundant when we need it the least, during the night and in the winter,” Lowry said.

“The solar project is going to generate most of the energy when our system has the highest energy demand. Having a fixed-price energy resource to mitigate the fluctuating market cost of energy will be a great benefit to our cooperative members and those that they serve.”

“The decreasing cost of solar energy, along with other industry dynamics, makes it the right time to bring solar energy into our generation mix,” said Steve Epperson, Mid-Kansas board chairman.

Stuart Lowery welcomes KS Lt. Gov. Tracey Mann to the podium.

Among the dignitaries attending yesterday’s announcement was new Kansas Lieutenant Governor Tracey Mann, a Quinter native.

The southwest Kansas location of the project is very familiar to Mann.

“My great-great grandfather John Winger actually homesteaded in Stanton County about 10 miles from this site. My mother grew up there just south of Johnson. My uncles and cousins and a lot of family members live near this site as well,” Mann told the group. “I could not be more ecstatic.”

Also attending the announcement ceremony were state representative Eber Phelps of Hays, city commissioners Sandy Jacobs and Shaun Musil and Ellis County Commissioner Barbara Wasinger.

Tuesday’s announcement fell on the 10 year anniversary of Mid-Kansas Electric Company, formed by members of the Sunflower Electric Cooperative. The six members include Western Cooperative Electric in WaKeeney, as well as Lance-Scott Electric Cooperative, Prairie Land Electric Cooperative, Southern Pioneer Electric, Victory Electric Cooperative and Wheatland Electric Cooperative serving members in 32 Kansas counties.