Golden Triangle II Solar and Battery Energy Storage Project

Lowndes County, Mississippi

July 2022 Update

Following the issuance of TVA’s May 31, 2022, FONSI and Final EA for the Golden Triangle II Solar and BESS Project, the site layout was revised by MS Solar 6 which indicated that additional tree clearing, beyond what was originally expected, would be necessary for installation of the solar arrays. The May 31, 2022, EA and FONSI listed "up to 270 acres of forested upland areas" out of 493 acres studied "could be removed during initial construction." Although the overall project site area has not changed, the areas within the site that will be cleared have been revised. Based on the revised site plan, it is anticipated that up to 493 acres of forested land could be cleared during initial site construction.

Final Draft Environmental Assessment

On May 31, 2022, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) released the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) for a proposed power purchase agreement (PPA) with a solar generating facility in Lowndes County, Mississippi.

TVA has tentatively approved an agreement to purchase the electricity and environmental attributes generated by the Golden Triangle Solar Project in Lowndes County, Mississippi. The Project would be constructed by MS Solar 6 and is expected to generate up to 150 megawatts (MW) of alternating current (AC) capacity and a 50 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).

The proposed Project is located north and east of the town of Artesia, Mississippi. The Project Site includes 6 individual parcels on which the solar array footprints, connection lines, and associated access roads would be constructed. The Solar Facility would consist of multiple parallel rows of photovoltaic panels on single-axis tracking structures, along with direct current and alternating current inverters and transformers.

Customer demand for cleaner energy prompted TVA to release a 2020 Renewables Request for Proposal (RFP) for renewable energy resources. The MS Solar 6 PPA that resulted from this RFP will help TVA meet immediate needs for additional renewable generating capacity in response to customer demands and fulfill the renewable energy goals established TVA’s 2019 IRP. The Proposed Action would provide cost-effective renewable energy consistent with the IRP and TVA goals.

The Draft EA was available for public comment from February 18 to March 21, 2022.