BY CAL BRYANT/ROANOKE-CHOWANNEWS-HERALD
cal.bryant@roanokechowannewsherald.com

MURFREESBORO, N.C.—Groundbreaking is expected this spring for a solar farm near Murfreesboro, N.C.

GreenCo Solutions will become North Carolina’s largest facility of this type. When completed later this year, the solar farm will generate enough electricity to power about 700 average-sized homes.

The solar farm will be built on 37 acres east of Murfreesboro Bypass. It will be a multimillion dollar investment, said Hertford County Economic Development Director Bill Early.

“We’ve been working on this project for a little over one year,” Early said. “We are thrilled that this particular site was chosen here in our county.”

The electricity produced by the solar farm will be purchased by NCEMC, the power supply organization for the majority of the state’s electric cooperatives.

“We are pleased to announce our participation in one of the state’s largest solar projects,” said Rick Thomas, chief executive officer of NCEMC and GreenCo Solutions. “This project will provide 20 years of clean, renewable electricity.”

Hertford County has another “green” energy operation under construction. Enviva LP of Richmond is converting the old Georgia-Pacific property on state Route 561 East in Ahoskie for a biomass wood pellets processing plant. That facility will open in November.

“With all the changes taking place in the nation today in regards to becoming less dependent on fossil fuel, Hertford County is at the forefront of attracting renewable energy companies,” Early said.