May 18—A solar electric system installed at the headquarters of Haywood Electric Membership Corporation on Jonathan Creek will offset 89% of the power used at the company headquarters.

A Thursday "flip the switch" ceremony marked the kick-off for the 1,430 solar panel system erected on HEMC's property.

The amount of power generated is enough to provide 75 homes power for a year, said Mitch Bearden, marketing and economic development manager at HEMC. "We are always looking for the best ways to produce or buy power. We wanted to be able to do this at our office."

With nearly 100 employees, five buildings, server rooms that power a company serving nearly 30,000 homes or businesses, pole yards, lighting and more, the amount of energy needed to run HEMC's headquarters is considerable, Bearden said.

The solar project was completed in conjunction with Pisgah Energy and Renewable Design Associates to design, develop and install the ground-mounted solar cells.

Pisgah Energy's mission is to lead the transition of commercial, municipal and institutional clients from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.

Renewable Design Associates, LLC provides design-build, installation, and maintenance services for commercial and industrial solar photovoltaics, electric vehicle infrastructure and microgrid and storage systems.

The solar system installed adjacent to HEMC's home office will produce about 843,700 kWh of renewable energy annually, enough to offset over 598 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year.

"We're excited to energize our first solar array," said Rex LaRowe, Haywood EMC's chief of operations. "This system will allow us to see the impacts of a utility scale solar installation on our distribution system while providing renewable energy to our members."

The project is part of a larger program looking at ways to incorporate green technologies into the cooperative's energy portfolio.

"Haywood EMC will continue to look for ways our member-owners can become more energy efficient and be a trusted energy advisor on the new technologies as they emerge," he added.

Haywood EMC is a locally run, member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative serving more than 28,000 electric accounts in Buncombe, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Oconee South Carolina, Rabun Georgia and Transylvania counties.