Nixa Mulls Proposal for 72-Acre Solar Farm

February 10, 2014

Nixa Mulls Proposal for 72-Acre Solar Farm

NIXA, Mo. — A developer is proposing a 72-acre solar farm near Nixa that could save residents more than $11 million on energy bills over a 25-year contract.

According to the proposal by St. Louis-based Solexus, the farm could be the Show-Me State's largest. A similar deal with the same developer is already finalized for Springfield, where a solar farm is expected to break ground next month.

“It would give us another option to buy our electricity, right now we buy 100 percent of our electricity from City Utilities,” Jill Finney, Nixa's director of communications, said.

“You can really lock in that price over time and not have to deal with the volatility of other fuel sources,” Solexus President David Bunge said. “The price of solar has come down to where it's competitive with other sources of energy.”

A cost benefit analysis is being conducted by Toth and Associates of Springfield to determine whether the solar panel farm would save residents money by using less traditional sources.

“If it doesn't reduce the customers' bills, then it's probably not worth it,” Finney said.

Solexus selected the land for the project, which is off West Mt. Vernon Street and owned by Sen. Jay Wasson. He agreed to the project late last year.

The actual construction would be carried out by an out-of-state firm, Strata Solar.

“As a Missouri based company, we're excited to see communities moving in this direction,” Bunge said.

via Nixa Mulls Proposal for 72-Acre Solar Farm – OzarksFirst.com.