Just days after Hinds County supervisors approved the state’s largest solar farm, Mississippi’s Public Service Commission (MPSC) announced it will be thoroughly vetting upcoming projects.
On Monday, Hinds County officials, in a 3-2 vote, narrowly gave the green light for Charlottesville, Va.-based Apex Clean Energy to build a roughly 6,000-acre solar facility in the Bolton and Raymond areas despite outcries from members of the community.
MPSC, which is responsible for regulating public utilities in the state as well as issuing certificates for electric-generating facilities like solar farms, is reminding entities looking to bring developments to the Magnolia State that a rigorous review process will take place before any project takes off.
The goal is to ensure that various developments meet specific criteria. All three commissioners stressed that the approval process involves a comprehensive review of multiple factors, including:
- Technical feasibility and financial viability
- Environmental impact and compliance with regulations
- Grid reliability and transmission system capacity
- Potential benefits and costs to ratepayers
“The approval process is in place to ensure that solar projects in Mississippi meet the highest standards of safety, reliability, and efficiency,” PSC Chairman Chris Brown said. “We must guarantee that these projects serve the best interests of our citizens and align with our state’s energy goals.”
The commissioners encourage solar developers and stakeholders to engage with the commission throughout the approval process, ensuring that projects meet the necessary criteria and align with the state’s energy vision.
