Solar Energy Taking Root in Kentucky
 State's largest utility unveils universal solar facility; new solar offering for customers
The largest universal solar facility in Kentucky resides at LG&E and KU's E.W. Brown Generating Station in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. The new 10-megawatt facility stretches across 50 acres of the plant's property which also includes coal, natural gas and hydroelectric generation.
In Kentucky, solar power is enjoying its day in the sun. On April 19, Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company officials and political leaders unveiled the state's largest solar facility at E.W. Brown Generating Station in Mercer County.
"Today marks another step in the evolution of LG&E and KU," said Paul W. Thompson, chief operating officer for LG&E and KU, during April's press conference. "We're embarking on a new era and introducing a new source of energy to our generation portfolio that will work in concert with our coal, natural gas and hydroelectric fleet."
The facility, which became fully operational in June, occupies 50 acres of property at E.W. Brown in Harrodsburg.
"Kentucky's low-cost energy, based on its use of coal, has been the backbone of our economy, bringing manufacturing jobs to the commonwealth," said Kentucky Energy and Environmental Cabinet Secretary Charles G. Snavely. "However, with the uncertainty in our federal regulatory environment, helping advance other sources of energy in Kentucky provides flexibility and makes good sense."
Kentucky's largest universal solar facility boasts more than 44,000 photovoltaic solar panels on a fixed-rack system that is tilted to optimize the available sunlight. It was approved by the Kentucky Public Service Commission in December 2014.
The facility will allow LG&E and KU to learn more about photovoltaic technology, including how solar energy is impacted by cloud cover and how it integrates with the existing generating units.
For Jeff Heun, LG&E and KU manager of Major Capital Projects, the solar power plant at E.W. Brown is unlike any other project he's managed.
"Introducing a new source of energy into the fleet isn't something you get to do every day, and this project gives us the opportunity to learn how solar can work in concert with 24/7 power sources like coal and natural gas," said Heun, who oversaw the project's construction.
Business solar
 LG&E and KU also plan to offer individual solar arrays - energy systems that convert solar energy into electrical power - for business and industrial customers interested in renewable generation. The company is partnering with Kentucky-based Solar Energy Solutions, LLC for this new business solar offering, which was first announced in November 2015.
"We received a good mix of responses during the request for proposals process from local and national companies with a wide range of capabilities and experience in solar generation design and construction," said John P. Malloy, LG&E and KU vice president of Customer Services. "Solar Energy Solutions is a well-established solar provider with local roots here in Kentucky and well-known projects throughout the region, and this partnership will keep business local and offer new solar opportunities for our communities and our customers."
Through this new business solar service, LG&E and KU will build, own and operate individual solar facilities for interested business and industrial customers. The solar systems may include ground or rooftop solar arrays and can range in size from 30 kilowatts to 5 megawatts. Each customized project will be subject to approval by the Kentucky Public Service Commission.
"Providing regulated distributed generation through this new customized business solar service will be a new venture for us, but we expect this to be responsive to our customers' needs," said Malloy. "We're committed to investigating and evaluating new customer offerings that improve our business while continuing to deliver safe and reliable energy at the lowest reasonable cost."
Learn more about the company's solar facility and solar options for your business or home by visiting the LG&E and KU website.
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