By Toby Thorpe

For the Salisbury Post

Officials from EDP Renewables and Duke Energy, along with a number of local and state-level stakeholders, officially opened the Misenheimer Solar Park on Oct. 29 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the park site.

Located on approximately 240 acres within the Misenheimer corporate limits, the solar park “will complement the area’s agricultural resources with a stable cash crop in the form of landowner lease payments,” according to EDP North American Director of Marketing and Stakeholder Relations Tom Weirich.

Weirich said it includes around 200,000 photovoltaic panels.

EDP North American CEO Sandhya Ganapathy opened the ceremony by welcoming those gathered, thanking those responsible for bringing the solar park to Misenheimer, and providing background information on the project.

“We especially thank the village of Misenheimer for working with us,” she said. “This project is our first entry into North Carolina, and EDP is committed to being a good citizen in the Misenheimer community.”

Ganapathy said the project, which began in February 2020, was slowed but not derailed by the COVID pandemic.

“I’m proud of our entire EDP team for their hard work throughout the construction of the park,” she said.

According to information provided by EDP, 125 construction jobs were created during the park’s development, with two permanent jobs remaining on-site following project completion.

In addition, the project will provide economic benefits of more than $2.2 billion over the of the project, will produce power equivalent to the average consumption of over 12,000 North Carolina homes, and will save over 93 million gallons of water each year while reducing air pollution, acid rain, and climate change created by less clean methods of energy production.

Misenheimer Mayor Pro-Tem of Misenheimer Micah Edquist followed Ganapathy, and complemented her team on the working relationship established with the village.

“I grew up and have spent my entire life within a mile of this area,” he stated. “This land has a rich history, and we are fortunate that EDP was the developer. They have worked with us to observe our ordinances and zoning nuances, and there were no hiccups between EDP and the village of Misenheimer. All that they said they would do, they have done.

“I’ve watched this project from beginning to end, and it’s been remarkable to watch it happen,” Edquist said, adding, “we are happy to have the project here.”

Jeff Childress, special assistant to the president at Pfeiffer University, welcomed EDP and recognized the university’s involvement with the project. Representatives from the offices of U.S. Sen. Ted Budd, and U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop presented certificates of appreciation to Ganapathy at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, EDP Renewables North America (EDPR-NA) and its affiliates and subsidiaries develop, construct, own and operate renewable energy storage systems throughout North America. EDPR-NA operates 61 wind farms and 18 solar parks across the North American continent, and has developed more than 11,200 megawatts of onshore utility-scale renewable energy products.

Toby Thorpe is a freelance writer for The Stanly News & Press.