Southside Electric Cooperative’s wholesale energy provider, Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC), recently announced purchase agreements for two Virginia solar power projects in Northampton and Clarke counties.

The projects include 20 megawatts (MW) from the Eastern Shore’s Northampton site and 10MW from Clarke in northwestern Virginia. The Glen Allen-based power-supply cooperative, ODEC, is owned by SEC and 10 other distribution electric cooperatives in Virginia, Maryland and  Delaware.

“As a member and owner of ODEC, Southside is excited to see the addition of solar power to our energy mix. Increasingly more Americans are looking toward renewables, and we recognize the important balance between providing affordable electricity that is also environmentally responsible. We are proud that SEC’s diverse power portfolio now includes solar, wind, landfill gas, hydro-electric, natural gas, coal and nuclear,” SEC’s president and CEO Jeff Edward said.

ODEC held a competitive bid process this summer administered by the National Renewables Cooperative Organization (NRCO) for bids on solar projects ranging in size from one to 10MW. Hecate Energy in Nashville, Tenn., was chosen based on its ability to provide the most cost effective and beneficial solar photovoltaic plants within the service territories of ODEC’s member owners. Hecate is a leading developer, owner and operator of solar, natural gas and wind power plants and energy-storage solutions.

With a total generating capacity of 30MW, both projects are expected to be in service by December 2016.

Southside Electric Cooperative (SEC) is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution cooperative that serves over 55,000 homes and businesses in portions of 18 counties in central and southern Virginia.

Headquartered in Crewe, SEC has district offices in Altavista, Crewe, Dinwiddie and Powhatan. For more information, visit www.sec.coop.