by Kyle Massey
Arkansas Business
Friday, Jun. 28, 2019
As Today’s Power Inc. of Little Rock and Ouachita Electric Cooperative Corp. dedicated a pioneering solar power plant at Southern Arkansas University Tech in Camden, Scenic Hill Solar announced Thursday the completion of the largest sun array in Yell County.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson spoke at SAU Tech’s “flip the switch” ceremony for a 1-megawatt photovoltaic array on campus, held in conjunction with the 80th annual meeting of OECC, the not-for-profit distribution cooperative headquartered in Camden.
It is the first project completed under Act 464, the law opening greater solar possibilities to government organizations, nonprofits and schools by letting them make deals to buy energy from third-party owners of solar facilities.
OECC Chief Executive Officer Mark Cayce supported the bill in testimony before the state Legislature, citing SAU Tech’s plans as an example. “SAU Tech was looking for ways to avoid raising tuition and fees, and savings on the electric bill was something they could get from solar.”