South Carolina’s Largest Solar Project Begins Operation

Cubico and Cypress Creek have announced the successful energisation of 106 MW Palmetto Plains, South Carolina’s largest solar project in operation.

Cubico Sustainable Investments, a global investor in renewable energy backed by two of Canada’s largest pension funds, and Cypress Creek Renewables, a leading national solar and storage company, recently announced the successful energisation of Palmetto Plains, South Carolina’s largest solar project in operation.

The project is located in Orangeburg County, whereto two firms recently also announced the financial close and start of construction for Huntley Solar, a 100 MWdc solar project. Together, the Huntley and Palmetto Plains projects will provide USD 11 million in local tax revenue for Orangeburg County over the expected 40-year operational life of the projects.

Governor Henry McMaster said, “We are excited to have companies like Cypress Creek and Cubico invest in our state and remain proud of all the steps we have taken to welcome the solar industry to South Carolina. With the recent passing of the Energy Freedom Act, we expect to continue to see the rate payers benefit from low cost, environmentally friendly power.”

Cypress Creek is the developer and engineering, procurement and construction provider for Palmetto Plains, as well as Huntley, and will perform the long-term Operations & Maintenance services for both projects.

Sarah Slusser, CEO of Cypress Creek, said, “We are proud to energise South Carolina’s largest solar farm, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Orangeburg County community through our management of Palmetto Plains and the construction of Huntley. These are long-term infrastructure assets that will benefit the community.”

With the energisation of Palmetto Plains, a 106 MWdc solar project, South Carolina now benefits from more than 880 MWdc of solar in operation, enough power for approximately 94,000 homes. Cypress Creek has developed and successfully added 375MWdc across 22 projects to the grid in South Carolina, making it a leading developer of utility-scale solar in the state.

Ricardo Díaz, Cubico’s Head of Americas said “Palmetto Plains represented an exciting new chapter for us when it became the first asset in our USA solar portfolio to start operations. We are proud to see the project producing power and contributing to the sustainability goals of South Carolina.”