Hattiesburg solar panel farm to operate summer 2017

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The construction of the new solar panel farm in Hattiesburg is coming right along.

Area Development Partnership (ADP) President Chad Newell said the solar panel farm will operate this summer.

Mississippi Power and Silicon Ranch Corporation partnered together in a 25 year purchase agreement to build the state's largest solar farm.

“They are clearing site, getting it ready for the installation of the solar panels, so the post and the panels will be delivered soon and that installation will begin." said Newell.

The solar farm sits right across from Presbyterian Christian high school on 450 acres and will feature more than 600,000 solar panels.

When operational the $100 million facility will generate 50 MW, which is enough electricity to supply power to approximately 6,500 homes.

Newell said the construction process opened 400 construction jobs.