Starfire Mine Transforms into 800MW Solar Hub, Powering 170,000 Homes
Starfire Mine, once a significant coal mining site, is set for a new lease on life as it transforms into the BrightNight Starfire Renewable Energy Center. This solar energy hub, with an 800-megawatt (MW) capacity, will power over 170,000 households annually. BrightNight was selected as the developer through a competitive process led by Rivian and The Nature Conservancy.
The project, a $1-billion infrastructure investment, is one of the largest renewable energy projects in Kentucky on former mine lands. It will be developed in four phases, with construction of Phase 1 commencing in 2025. The project includes the construction of a twenty-mile transmission line, enabling an additional 1 gigawatt (GW) of renewable power generation in the region.
Rivian Automotive Inc. will purchase 100 MW of renewable energy from the project, powering up to 450 million miles of renewable driving annually. The Nature Conservancy will purchase up to 2.5 MW of renewable energy credits to achieve clean energy sustainability commitments. Starfire Minerals Ltd. and Solaris Infrastructure Inc. are the partners financing the solar plant project at the Starfire Mine site.
The Starfire Renewable Energy Center aims to accelerate an equitable, science-based clean energy transition, maximizing positive impacts on climate, conservation, and communities. Kentucky EEC Secretary Rebecca Goodman expressed support for the project and thanked BrightNight for considering assistance to the Olive Branch Community.
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