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WKRECC Leads Way to Generate Renewable Energy

WKRECC Leads Way to Generate Renewable Energy
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By West Kentucky Star Staff
Apr. 17, 2014 | MAYFIELD, KY
By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 17, 2014 | 11:00 AM | MAYFIELD, KY
West Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative is a state leader in generating renewable energy, according to a report released by the Tennessee Valley Authority. 

The cooperative has 77 renewable energy generating installations currently working to feed electricity back into their system, the highest number of installations for any TVA electric provider in Kentucky.  The cooperative also ranks 6th overall in number of installations throughout the entire Tennessee Valley. 

A partnership between West Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative and TVA called Green Power Providers, which provides buy-back incentives for members who generate renewable energy, has been a driving factor in the increase of renewable energy installations in the area. 

“The Green Power Providers program has proven to be a successful one for our members,” said president and CEO David Smart.  “Our members who are participating in the program are real groundbreakers and they are, in turn, helping us to achieve our goal of increasing our renewable energy portfolio.”

Response to the program has been staggering, according to cooperative officials. 

“Our members who have solar installations are seeing great results and are talking to their friends about it.  They are really carrying the torch for us in creating awareness and bringing in more participants,” said Michael Evans, project engineer. 

The cooperative saw its first participant in the Green Power Providers program in 2011 when Dean Krichbaum installed a small wind turbine system on his property in Graves County.  Since then, interest in solar generation has exploded throughout the area, making it the leading source of renewable energy in the cooperative’s Green Power Providers program.  Cooperative officials believe the solar trend will continue. 

“We are still receiving many calls from interested members, so our numbers will keep going up,” said Evans, who works with members to determine the appropriate size for solar installations and the logistics for tying those systems into the cooperative’s infrastructure. 

Members who are interested in investigating the Green Power Providers program can call and speak with Evans at 270-247-1321 or visit the cooperative’s Web site at www.wkrecc.com

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