Scenic Hill Solar to install 1-megawatt solar plant for Centerpoint School District

Centerpoint School District and North Little Rock-based solar power developer Scenic Hill Solar will work together to build a 1.04-megawatt solar power plant for the school district. The project was announced Friday (Dec. 20).

The nearly $1.5 million plant will be used to power 100% of the school district’s operations. The school district is based in Amity, which is southwest of Hot Springs, and has nearly 1,000 students from Clark, Garland, Hot Springs and Pike counties. The plant is expected to be built on the school district’s property, and construction will start after it receives governmental approval. It should be completed and operational in late 2020.

“The Centerpoint School District has been investigating the opportunity to deploy solar power since the passage of Act 464 in early 2019,” Superintendent Dan Breshears said. “Scenic Hill Solar demonstrated the greatest ability to meet our needs and deliver savings to the district. We are excited to collaborate on the solar development that both provides a model of responsible citizenship for our students and allows us to focus resources on the educational needs of Centerpoint students.”

The solar power plant is expected to save the school district more than $40,000 annually. The fixed-tilt array will have more than 2,500 panels and is expected to produce more than 1.59 million kilowatt-hours of electricity in the first year of operation and more than 44.29 million kilowatt-hours of electricity over the next 30 years. It is projected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 30,753 metric tons, which is equal to driving more than 76 million fewer passenger vehicle miles, eliminating the burning of more than 2.3 million pounds of coal or providing more than 4,609 homes with electricity for a year.

Scenic Hill Solar will own and operate the plant and has a 28-year energy services agreement with the school district.

Scenic Hill Solar on Thursday announced the construction of a 3.46-megawatt solar energy system for Forrest City in eastern Arkansas.