WR Graceland Solar | RWE in the Americas

Project Introduction

WR Graceland Solar is a 150 MWac capacity solar project currently in development in Shelby County, TN.

WR Graceland Solar will be located on agricultural-zoned parcels in unincorporated Shelby County. WR Graceland Solar will harness and deliver renewable energy, power critical to meeting the growing demand and maintaining grid reliability connecting to existing MLGW infrastructure. In addition to the solar facility, RWE will construct a new MLGW-owned switchyard to support grid reliability. The power generated by this facility will be injected on site to the MLGW grid and consumed by their customers.

WR Graceland solar consists of the construction and operation of a photovoltaic (PV) electricity- generating facility and associated infrastructure. Solar energy is a clean and reliable energy source that does not produce carbon emissions or other pollutants. This project will consist of more than 275,000 solar panels, 39 power conversion stations, a substation and a switchyard.

WR Graceland Solar is expected to enter commercial operations in late 2024 and will be a valuable source of stable tax revenue for Shelby County throughout its 40+ year lifespan.

Status: In development

Facts & figures

00 megawatts-ac

capacity

Over 00

homes powered¹

More than $ 00 M

in new property tax revenue to the community over the life of the project

Over $ 00 M

paid in Tennessee state-level Excise and Capital Stock taxes over the life of the project

How we help the community

Supporting communities

WR Graceland Solar will provide millions of dollars in additional tax revenue to Shelby County and local taxing districts. This new source of public funding can reduce the tax burden on local residents and be used to support essential services including schools, roads, fire departments and first responders.

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Supporting communities

WR Graceland Solar - Supporting local communities | RWE in the Americas

Supporting local economies

Hundreds of jobs will be created during construction, offering oppor-tunities for residents to enter the rapidly expanding clean energy workforce. Local businesses will see an economic boom as demand for lodging, restaurants, supplies, vehicle maintenance, and fuel increases throughout the 9-13 months of construction. During operations, 3-4 permanent positions will be created to operate WR Graceland Solar, and the project will continue to source supplies from local businesses. There will be more than $20M in property tax revenue to Shelby County over the life of the project.

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Supporting local economies

Supporting farmers

WR Graceland Solar will be located on private property, offering participating landowners a reliable source of farm income over the 40 year life of the project. Farmers who choose to host solar panels have the opportunity to reinvest in their farming operations, save for retirement and use their increased purchasing power to support local businesses throughout the community.

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Supporting farmers

Community Engagement

RWE Image — TIC02-1-memphis-shelby-county-schools

Partnership with Memphis Shelby County Schools’ College

RWE has partnered with the Memphis Shelby County Schools’ College, Career and Technical Education (CCTE) program, which will educate students on careers in renewable energy through interactive classroom discussions and onsite tours of the maintenance of the solar farm upon completion.

Donation to Junior Achievement

RWE has donated $50,000 to Junior Achievement to sponsor a three-day, hands-on career expo for thousands of 8th grade students. While serving as a sponsor, we are focused on providing an interactive learning experience for students related to renewable energy from design to energy generation. This partnership will allow us to work with MLGW to show students how energy moves across our community daily.

Providing employment opportunities

The construction of the WR Graceland site will offer upwards of 200 jobs. We are committed to working with our contractor to host job fairs across Shelby County to provide employment opportunities for construction and skilled trades. While the completed project is managed remotely, the site will employ 2-3 local residents.

Working with local businesses

WR Graceland recognizes the importance of economic development in communities like Shelby County and is an active member of the Millington Chamber and the Greater Memphis Chamber. Late last year, we received the Community Partner Award from the Millington Chamber. We look forward to working with local businesses and officials to increase commitment to renewable infrastructure.

Stronger Electric Grid

Solar energy has become one of the most affordable and reliable sources of electricity available today. Solar farms increase the resiliency of Tennessee’s electric grid while protecting consumers from the volatility and rising costs of traditional energy sources.

Protecting the Environment and the Community

WR Graceland Solar will be designed to complement existing agri-cultural land uses, protect the soil, and avoid negative impacts to wildlife. Solar farms produce electricity without generating any pol-lution, resulting in cleaner air and water when compared to tradi-tional power plants.

Comprehensive studies are required as part of the planning and permitting process to protect public safety and the environment. This project will be virtually silent outside the fence line, while set-backs will minimize visual impacts.

WR Graceland Solar - Protecting the Environment and the Community | RWE in the Americas

Graceland Solar will use silicon-based PV panels, which are made of safe, well-tested materials commonly used in building and household products. The panels are fully sealed and extremely durable, preventing trace metals from escaping into the surrounding soil. PV solar panels are so safe that millions of families across the U.S. have put solar panels on their homes and literally sleep beneath them. RWE’s advanced remote operations center will monitor the panels 24/7, 365 days a year while the onsite operations team will be available to respond in the unlikely event of an emergency.

At the end of Graceland Solar’s useful life, equipment, foundations and electrical collection systems will be removed and the land will be restored to its original condition. A decommissioning security is to be maintained in accordance with state and local law.

Contact us!

Your feedback is important to us. You can reach the Graceland Solar Phone Line at (866) 219-0017 or you can take a moment to fill out the contact form below to share your thoughts or ask questions.

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