DESOTO COUNTY, Miss — Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley said he has approved a $90 million solar facility in Desoto County.
Tuesday, Presley officially signed the documents to authorize the project, which will start construction later this year and provide 300 construction jobs and three permanent jobs to the area of Walls, Mississippi.
The 100 megawatt facility will be located near Walls, with its northwest boundary at the corner of Old Hwy. 61 and Sanders Road.
The solar farm would connect transmission lines and facilities to Entergy, which is the county's primary utility provider. None of the power generated would be sold directly to Mississippi customers. Presley said it would benefit Toyota's Blue Springs facility. Wildflower - a subsidiary of Clearwater Energy - will sell its power to the power grid and Toyota will receive Renewable Energy Credits.
Presley said the solar facility is a private investment which will pay more than $400,000 each year in taxes.
According to the Public Information Officer for Desoto County, the attorney representing Wildflower Solar stated it is expected to generate $185,000 in property taxes to DeSoto County annually and more than $250,000 in taxes to DeSoto County Schools.
“I am proud to approve this free market approach to a renewable energy that meets the needs of Toyota for continued growth in Mississippi, while bringing benefits to DeSoto County. We have to have a new strategy for a new age in economic development that utilizes Mississippi’s natural resources for strategic economic development. This project does just that and I’m proud to make this happen for our state,” said Commissioner Presley in a news release.
