Missouri doubles solar energy capacity through Kelso Solar Project

SCOTT COUNTY(KBSI) – Just outside of Kelso rows of solar panels stretch across acres of farmland, marking a new chapter in renewable energy for Scott County. 

 Community members and city leaders gathered to hear details of the 18-month long project, marking one of the biggest solar projects to happen in Missouri. The solar farm will produce around 430 megawatts, which is roughly enough energy to power around 62,ooo homes.

The project was done in two parts and cost around 500 million dollars.

According to Arevon CEO the project will put funding into Scott County schools, first responders, and boost infrastructure. 

Scott County Presiding Commissioner Danny Tetley shares how it’s going to help Scott County residents.    

“It’s going to generate roughly $62 million worth of tax revenue for Scott County” says Tetley. “The county commission decided 2 or 3 years ago to sponsor a chapter 100 bonds, which would keep all of that tax money here locally instead of going to the state.” 

Justin Johnson is the Chief Operating Officer and CEO of Arevon Energy. He shares that this is Arevons first project in Missouri and it will boost Missouri’s power by 50% he shares what Arevon does. 

 “We build solar and battery projects all over the US. We’re in 17 states, and then the energy from those plants goes to power communities, utilities and other large consumers of energy” says Johnson.

Johnson explains the energy from the solar panels will go into an energy grid and be used for all kinds of things.

“So the power that is generated from this facility connects to, the transmission system through a substation that’s not too far from where we’re standing and then all those electrons feed onto the grid. Once they’re on the grid, you don’t really kind of know where they’re going. It’s like they’re going into a large reservoir but there’s large consumers in the area, one of which is a data center, owned by Facebook, by Meta. So, they’re a huge consumer of power in the region” says Johnson.

Meta signs agreements for solar power to assist in the large amount of electricity it uses in its data centers.