East Kentucky Power Granted Approval for Solar Facilities

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Public Service
Commission (PSC) has granted East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) Certificates
of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCNs) for the construction of two proposed solar
power facilities. The CPCNs will allow EKPC to construct a 96 megawatt facility in Marion
County (Northern Bobwhite Solar Project), north of Lebanon, Kentucky and east of
Highway 55. Also, EKPC will construct a 40 megawatt facility in Fayette County, Kentucky
(Bluegrass Plains Solar Project) south of Interstate 64 and north of Winchester Road (US
60), approximately 3.2 miles from Clark County.
The PSC held an evidentiary hearing on the matter in October, receiving testimony
in the matter. The hearing was open to the public, included public comments at the
beginning of the hearing, and a video of the proceeding can be found on Commission’s
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KYPSC. The PSC has found that these
projects meet the statutory criteria, as set by the Kentucky General Assembly, that the
facilities are necessary to ensure reasonable rates and services for Kentucky electric
customers and will not result in wasteful duplication of services. Additionally, the PSC
required EKPC to take appropriate mitigation measures to minimize any effects on
surrounding properties during construction and operation. Additional documents and
information can be found at http://psc.ky.gov/case/viewcasefilings/2024-00129.