Construction begins on Kentucky’s newest solar energy center
May 17, 2024
A speaker at a podium during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Sebree Solar Energy Center.

ROBARDS, Ky.– State officials, local leaders, stakeholders and landowners joined executives from NextEra Energy Resources, LLC and Nucor Corporation to celebrate breaking ground on Kentucky’s newest solar energy project – the Sebree Solar Energy Center.

Sebree Solar, LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the sun and wind, and a world leader in battery energy storage, will have a capacity of up to 250 megawatts of American-produced energy.

Nucor has entered into a 250-megawatt power purchase agreement, which supports the company’s net-zero by 2050 goal. The solar energy center will be constructed using low embodied carbon steel from Nucor divisions in the region, including Nucor Steel Gallatin in Ghent, Kentucky. The construction of the facility is expected to create up to 250 local jobs.

"The Sebree Solar Energy Center will not only generate low-cost, homegrown energy but it is also expected to provide millions of dollars in additional tax revenue to Henderson County over the life of the project," said Kevin Gildea, vice president of development at NextEra Energy Resources. “We are pleased to collaborate with Nucor and Henderson County as we begin construction on Kentucky’s newest solar energy center."  

"We are delighted to be a significant off taker of this renewable energy as well as a key material supplier to this important addition to the power grid in Kentucky- a region where our presence has greatly expanded in recent years," said Greg Murphy, executive vice president of business services and general counsel at Nucor Corporation. "This project is a great demonstration of the important role steel plays in supporting our country's energy transition and the American jobs created by investing in green energy solutions.”

“Kentucky’s economy is booming, and today’s groundbreaking on the Sebree Solar Energy Center is another win for the commonwealth,” said Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman. “This project will produce revenue, renewable energy and jobs of the future for the region.”

“I applaud Nucor and NextEra Energy Resources for collaborating on this huge investment. This project leverages Nucor steel made in Kentucky and other nearby facilities in the region,” said Senate President Stivers, R-Manchester. “With the increasing pressures on our finite energy grid, generating energy from all sources is important for maintaining our energy demands.  This project is a model partnership of two companies making substantial financial commitments to the Commonwealth, using Kentucky products made by Kentucky skilled workers that will benefit Kentucky citizens, businesses, and the Henderson County community for years to come.”

“With this project Henderson County is quickly becoming an ‘all of the above’ energy producer that will eventually provide hundreds of megawatts of power to customers around the Commonwealth and the Midwest,” said Brad Schneider, Henderson County Judge Executive. "How many counties in the entire United States are building solar farms and a new coal mine (or two different types of generation) at the same time? In addition, not only will the increased local tax revenue from the Sebree Solar project help our schools, but they will also help Henderson County hold the line on any tax increases for our citizens in the future.”

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About NextEra Energy Resources
NextEra Energy Resources, LLC (together with its affiliated entities, "NextEra Energy Resources") is a clean energy leader and is one of the largest wholesale generators of electric power in the U.S., with approximately 30,600 megawatts of total net generating capacity, primarily in 41 states and Canada as of year-end 2023. NextEra Energy Resources is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun, a world leader in battery storage. The business operates clean, emissions-free nuclear power generation facilities in New Hampshire and Wisconsin as part of the NextEra Energy nuclear fleet. NextEra Energy Resources offers a wide range of clean energy solutions to help businesses and customers across the country meet their emissions reduction goals. NextEra Energy Resources, LLC is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit: www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.

About Nucor

Nucor Corporation is the largest steel, steel products producer and recycler of any material in North America. For more than five decades, Nucor has been built on the sustainable model of producing steel with a low-carbon footprint by recycling scrap metal into new steel and steel products through the use of electric arc furnace technology. With its continued investment in breakthrough technologies to lower emissions across the supply chain, Nucor is committed to reshaping the industry by not only making steel more sustainably but enabling partners to reach their own carbon reduction goals.