From Fox25
A solar energy center in Minco is projected to bring in hundred of temporary jobs and generate enough power for thousands of homes.
A field off of SH-152 in Minco will soon be the site of the Rumble Solar Energy Center, a partnership between NextEra Energy Resources and Sysco.
“This is going to be one of the largest solar projects in all of food,” said Henry Fovargue, VP Sustainability for Sysco.
Sysco is the largest wholesale food-to-go distribution company in the world. The company is responsible for supplying food to schools, universities, hospitals and other facilities.
“We distribute food pretty much everywhere,” Fovargue said.
He said the Rumble Solar Energy Center will create 250 mw of energy to be used for food distribution and supply power to the surrounding area.
“This project, when it’s completed, will power over 75% of our operations in renewable energy,” said Fovargue. “It will also be powering the local community with energy as well.”
On Thursday, officials with NextEra Energy Resources and Sysco held a ceremonial dirt turn at the site along with the land owners and community members to celebrate the start of construction.
“We’re expecting about 300 construction jobs to be created and then three or four jobs over the lifetime of the project,” said Alison MacLeod, Senior Project Manager for NextEra Energy Resources.
NextEra Energy Resources invests in battery storage, natural gas and nuclear, wind and solar energy. This will be the fifth NextEra project in Grady County.
MacLeod said the project will generate at least $32 million in tax revenue in Grady County over the next 30 years.
“We’re excited to continue the partnership with Grady county and Oklahoma to bring that economic development here,” she said.
The landscape in the rural area is already riddled with wind turbines, showing the development and investment in renewable energy already in Oklahoma.
“We love and support all types of power and energy and generation so we’re excited to contribute to the American power production,” said MacLeod.
The project is expected to be done by the end of 2026.