For full article, see: Hattiesburg Business Today

The greater Hattiesburg area is quickly becoming a solar hub of the state and region with two, $100-million solar farms covering 1,000 acres current under construction that are expected to come online producing 100 megawatts of electricity by the summer of 2017, said Chad E. Newell, president of the Area Development Partnership (ADP).

“We’ve had an inordinate amount of growth with new solar farms locating in our area,” Newell said.

“Silicon Ranch, which is headquartered in Nashville, is investing $100 million in a facility in south Hattiesburg in Forrest County. Origis Energy based out of Belgium is investing $100 million in a solar farm in the north part of our metro area up near Sumrall in Lamar County.”

Both projects are being built under an agreement for the power to be purchased by Mississippi Power Company.

“These projects generate an inordinate amount of property taxes for schools,” Newell said.  “This is a big benefit for area schools to have unexpected revenue coming on line.”