The Hampton School District is the latest in Arkansas to run on solar power. Its new solar array was commissioned and made operational Tuesday.
Projected to supply more than 90 percent of the campus’ energy consumption, the system from Today’s Power Inc. can produce more than 1.24 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually. Ouachita Electric Cooperative Corp. (OECC) will provide the remaining energy needs of the district.
“This project exemplifies partnership and investing in our community,” said Hampton School District Superintendent Doug Worley
The project, now consisting of more than 2,000 panels, began when the district reached out to their local utility, OECC, seeking a solution to lower energy bills.
“Our goal at OECC is to help our members receive the lowest cost, most sustainable and most efficient energy available,” said Mark Cayce, CEO of Ouachita Electric Cooperative.
Once OECC conducted an evaluation of the school district’s facilities, it was suggested that Hampton Schools consider solar energy as a power alternative. In April 2020, the school board began pursuing solar-powered opportunities by creating and distributing a request for proposal (RFP) from qualified solar vendors with the goal of reducing operating expenses.
The savings from the purchase power agreement with Today’s Power are to be reallocated to services for the district, students and the local community.
“We are excited to partner with Hampton Schools as they fulfill their mission” said Michael Henderson, president of Today’s Power,. “Embracing leading edge technology so all of their students receive benefits of lower cost and contributing to a cleaner environment is sending the right message to the over 600 students they represent.”
Today’s Power is a wholly owned subsidiary of Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (AECI), a Little Rock-based utility service cooperative owned by 17 Arkansas electric distribution cooperatives. It offers turn-key solar photovoltaic systems, energy storage systems, electric vehicles and charging stations for all sizes and applications.
The Hampton district encompasses 479.67 square miles of land. It is the only public school district in Calhoun County and serves more than 600 students from the communities of Hampton, Harrell, Tinsman and Locust Bayou.
OECC is a non-profit rural electric utility cooperative headquartered in Camden with a district office in Hampton.