Kentucky's $1B Starfire Solar Project to Power Rivian's EV Operations
Kentucky is set to see a significant renewable energy project, the BrightNight Starfire Renewable Energy Center, which will transform the former Starfire Mine site into a solar energy hub. The project, valued at $1 billion, is one of the largest of its kind in Kentucky and will bring substantial benefits to the region.
Rivian, the electric vehicle manufacturer, will power its operations using renewable energy from this project. Through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), Rivian will buy 100 MW of clean power from Phase 1, enabling up to 450 million miles of emission-free driving annually. Rebecca Goodman, Kentucky's Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary, supports the project and is exploring ways BrightNight can assist in developing the Olive Branch Community.
The project will be developed in four phases, with the first construction starting in 2025. Once complete, the BrightNight Starfire Renewable Energy Center will have an 800-megawatt (MW) capacity, sufficient to power over 170,000 households annually. The project will also include the construction of a twenty-mile transmission line, facilitating an additional 1 gigawatt (GW) of renewable power generation in the region. The Nature Conservancy will purchase up to 2.5 MW of renewable energy credits to complement its onsite solar arrays.
The BrightNight Starfire Renewable Energy Center aims to accelerate a clean energy transition while maximizing positive impacts on climate, conservation, and communities. The project represents a significant investment in Kentucky's renewable energy future and is expected to bring substantial economic and environmental benefits to the region.
