“Flip the switch” on solar array near I-70 in New Castle

New Castle, IN -- Officials from three electric cooperatives and Henry County dedicated a new solar farm, tapping into the power of the sun to light up homes and businesses throughout east central Indiana.

The 1-megawatt array south of New Castle covers about 11 acres and is located just south of County Road 500 South, east of Indiana 3 and north of Interstate 70. Henry County REMC, RushShelby Energy and Whitewater Valley REMC worked alongside Hoosier Energy, their power supplier, to identify a prime location where the three cooperatives could show their support for renewable energy and learn more about how solar power works.   

“Interstate 70 brings about 40,000 vehicles through Henry County every day, traveling past the new solar farm. The high visibility of the farm highlights Henry County's and Hoosier Energy's commitment to progress,” said Ed Yanos, President of the Henry County Board of Commissioners. 

“Such an opportunity puts us in a better position to give advice to our member consumers on the operational issues, costs and benefits of solar as a renewable energy resource,” added Terry Jobe, Chief Executive Officer for RushShelby Energy.  

The solar farm is the first of 10 that Hoosier Energy plans to build to benefit its 18 members in southern and central Indiana and southeastern Illinois as part of the electric cooperative power supplier’s “all-of-the-above” energy portfolio.  

Commitment to community is a co-op principle of special importance to the three distribution cooperatives.  “We are used to bringing power to our members through transmission and distribution lines. Bringing this solar generation directly into the communities we serve is a bit different for us. This project will benefit the members of the REMCs and the communities of east central Indiana,” said Shannon Thom, Chief Executive Officer of Henry County REMC. 

 “Where electricity comes from is as important as how it gets to homes and businesses. The more we learn, the better we can take advantage of this important resource,” added Mary Jo Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Whitewater Valley REMC. 

About Henry County REMC
Henry County REMC is a member-owned electric cooperative based in New Castle and services electricity to approximately 9,670 residential and business accounts in Henry County and parts of Fayette, Rush, Hancock, Madison, Delaware, Randolph and Wayne. Henry County REMC is part of an 18-member system that receives power from the Hoosier Energy Power Network and is also a member of the Indiana Electric Cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. For more information, visit www.hcremc.com. 

About Rush Shelby Energy
RushShelby Energy is a member-owned electric cooperative based in Manilla. The Cooperative’s territory covers more than 11,400 members from parts of Rush, Shelby, Bartholomew, Decatur, Fayette, Franklin, Hancock, Henry, and Johnson counties. RushShelby Energy is part of an 18-member system that receives power from the Hoosier Energy Power Network and is also a member of Indiana Electric Cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative. 

About Whitewater Valley REMC
Whitewater Valley Rural Electric Membership Corporation is based in Liberty and serves more than 11,000 members in Dearborn, Franklin, Fayette, Union, Wayne, and Randolph counties.  For more information on Whitewater Valley REMC, visit www.wwvremc.com. The Cooperative is part of an 18-member system that receives power from the Hoosier Energy Power Network and is also a member of Indiana Electric Cooperatives, based in Indianapolis and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

About Hoosier Energy
Hoosier Energy is a generation and transmission cooperative (G&T) with headquarters in Bloomington, Ind. The G&T provides electric power and services to 18 electric distribution cooperatives in southern and central Indiana and southeastern Illinois. Hoosier Energy operates the coal-fired Merom Generating Station, three natural gas power plants, several renewable energy plants and a 1,700-mile transmission network. For more information, visit www.hepn.com.  

Media Contacts:
Henry County REMC: Lara Sullivan, lsullivan@hcremc.com 
RushShelby Energy: Jason Clemmons, jclemmons@rse.coop  
Whitewater Valley REMC: Sandy Cason, scason@wwvremc.com 
Hoosier Energy: Mary Lynn Beaver, mbeaver@hepn.com