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Invenergy says approved 75‑MW Edgecombe solar project will begin construction this summer; company outlines jobs and outreach
Summary
Invenergy updated the Edgecombe County Board on its already‑approved 75‑megawatt Edgecombe solar project, saying construction could begin summer 2026 with a peak of about 150 construction jobs and 3–4 permanent operations roles; presenters described a community outreach plan and a Dominion interconnection.
Will Shupe, a member of Invenergy’s community engagement team, told the Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners on April 6 that the company is moving forward with construction of the Edgecombe solar project, which he said ‘‘is already approved.’’ Shupe said the firm’s community team will serve as a conduit between the company and residents and has set up a hotline and website for questions.
Anna Cornish, the project developer, described the project as ‘‘a 75 megawatt project’’ sited on about 600 acres across four parcels north of U.S. Highway 64 and adjacent to a Dominion transmission substation the company will use for interconnection. Cornish said Invenergy signed an offtake agreement in mid‑2025 and anticipates full‑scale construction beginning in summer 2026, with commercial operations expected in late 2027.
Cornish and Shupe gave the board a construction timeline and workforce estimate: they said construction would ramp up to a peak of about 150 workers for the solar array, then taper toward commissioning; the operation phase would employ roughly three to four full‑time staff. Cornish also identified Vanguard Energy Partners as the main array contractor and Conductor Power as the substation contractor and said Invenergy will be the project owner and operator.
A county tax official explained the present‑use valuation issue raised by a commissioner: the property remains in agricultural present‑use value until a disqualifying change in use occurs, and a rollback is triggered by the change in use after construction, not by the leasing or permitting stage. Board members discussed community engagement and agreed to include Invenergy representatives in local stakeholder conversations already under way.
The presentation prompted questions about exact location and the substation tie‑in. Cornish pointed to a site map and said the primary array area is north of the U.S. 64 alternate corridor while the project’s substation will sit near the Dominion Beach Branch substation. Invenergy representatives said they will notify neighboring landowners directly as work approaches and will coordinate with county staff on outreach and local events.
The board accepted the presentation and had no formal vote on the update itself; commissioners did ask county staff to continue including Invenergy in stakeholder briefings and community outreach discussions.
