DOTHAN, Ala. (WDHN) — A new agreement the Alabama Municipal Electric Authority (AMEA)  has made with Lighthouse BP will bring a 350,000 solar panel farm to Montgomery County.

The new solar panel farm is similar to Dothan’s solar panel research project at Westgate Park and is expected to bring energy to 20,000 homes.

So what does this mean for Dothan Utilities customers? 

There will be no increase in energy bills, and possible AMEA customers could save $40 million through this 20-year deal.

“This agreement and this partnership that we have with Lightsource BP is a method by which to hedge financially as well as price-wise future energy cost,” said Fred Clark, president and CEO of AMEA.

“The diversification is what really helps between solar and nuclear and other sources of energy,” Mayor Mark Saliba said. 

“That;s ultimately what the folks in Dothan are gonna to see,” said Chris Phillips, Dothan Utilities electrical operations superintendent. “Relatively flat electric cost for many years to come, hopefully.”

Construction for the new solar panel farm is expected to be complete in 2021.