CAMDEN — By TAMMY FRAZIER
Managing editor
The Smart Electric Power Alliance has named Ouachita Electric Cooperative Corporation the 2017 SEPA Power Players Electric Cooperative Utility of the Year, according to a news release.
Chosen by an independent panel of seven judges with diverse experience in the electric power industry, OECC and winners in six other categories will be honored at an awards dinner during SEPA’s "Grid Evolution Summit: A National Town Meeting" on Wednesday, July 26, at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C.
OECC worked with its largest industrial customer, - defense contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne - along with developer Silicon Ranch and the Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Corporation, to construct a 12-megawatt solar array.
The news release reveals that the unique part of this collaboration was the power purchase agreement that placed the array behind Aerojet Rocketdyne’s meter, giving the company a fixed, low-cost power supply.
The project was the first utility-scale solar array built in Arkansas.
The solar array also provided around six megawatts of peak capacity and energy to AECC while simultaneously reducing the peak demand for OECC.
This reduction in peak demand cost has lowered the cost of power for all OECC members, the news release states.
“We are overwhelmed to be honored with this award," said OECC General Manager Mark Cayce. "This project has clearly demonstrated that working together as a unified team everybody wins. New technology has started to take root here where many thought it could never work. Our goal has been to refocus attention on South Arkansas as a leader in innovative energy efficiency programs, clean renewable energy, and high speed fiber internet in the rural area we serve."
Regarding OECC's award, Don Harrod - Village Administrator of Minster, Ohio, SEPA’s 2016 Public Power Utility of the Year - said:
“Partnering with a major industrial customer to build behind-the-meter, utility-scale solar that lowers peak demand costs is smart itself, but for it to be the first utility-scale solar in Arkansas period, demonstrates just how far the industry has come. Ouachita Electric Cooperative Corporation is making major moves, I look forward to seeing what their clean energy future can teach others."
Also in the news release, SEPA President and CEO Julia Hamm stated:
“Building large-scale solar in a part of the country where it hasn’t been done before is difficult. What we see from Ouachita, and many others, is that it isn’t too big of a hurdle to circumvent. Creative PPAs and unique program designs such as Ouachita’s that benefit both the customer and the grid is another example of work being done to move the United States toward a clean energy future.”
Now in their ninth year, the SEPA Power Players Awards recognize utilities, their industry partners, individuals and other stakeholders on the front lines of energy transformation in the United States that are significantly advancing knowledge of or access to distributed energy resources that benefit electricity consumers and the grid.
About SEPA
The Smart Electric Power Alliance is an educational nonprofit working to facilitate the utility industry’s transition to a clean energy future through education, research, standards and collaboration. SEPA offers a range of research initiatives and resources, as well as conferences, educational events and professional networking opportunities. SEPA is founder and co-sponsor of Solar Power International and winner of the Keystone Policy Center’s 2016 Leadership in Energy Award. For more information, visit www.sepapower.org.