A clearer road ahead
A clearer road ahead - Solar International Magazine
A clearer road ahead - Solar International Magazine
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NEWS I REVIEW<br />
“We believe the Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative will<br />
encourage new opportunities for solar development in our<br />
state and catapult us to the forefront of this clean, safe energy<br />
technology,” continued Bowers. “This initiative builds upon our<br />
record of maintaining not only one of the nation’s safest and<br />
most reliable electric systems at rates below the national<br />
average, but one of the most innovative as well. We will<br />
continue to build a diverse generation portfolio that utilizes the<br />
most cost effective and advanced technologies to benefit our<br />
customers.”<br />
To meet the target of 210 megawatts, Georgia Power’s Utility<br />
Scale program will purchase 60 megawatts annually for three<br />
years through a competitive request for proposal (RFP)<br />
program with projects ranging in size from 1-20 megawatts. By<br />
as early as 2013, a Distributed Scale program would provide<br />
opportunities for up to 10 megawatts per year of smaller solar<br />
projects with specific reservations for Small Scale (less than<br />
100 kW) and Medium Scale (100-1,000 kW) projects.<br />
RFPs for the Utility Scale program will be conducted in 2013,<br />
2014, and 2015, and require commercial operation dates in<br />
2015, 2016 and 2017. Georgia Power could begin signing solar<br />
contracts under the Distributed Scale program as early as first<br />
quarter of 2013.<br />
Customer contribution<br />
Developed in cooperation with the PSC, the GPASI will<br />
complement the company’s existing solar resources, which<br />
include leading-edge research and demonstration projects and<br />
a 50-megawatt Large Scale Solar program already in place.<br />
Since the creation of the company’s Green Energy Program in<br />
2003, which enables customers to support and foster the<br />
growth of renewable energy resources, Georgia Power has<br />
consistently pursued opportunities to grow solar in the state.<br />
Through various initiatives, including the Large Scale Solar<br />
Program approved in 2011, Georgia Power has worked closely<br />
with the PSC to add solar economically to its portfolio. There<br />
are currently 61.5 megawatts under contract – enough green<br />
energy to power approximately 7,600 homes.<br />
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company,<br />
one of the nation’s largest generators of electricity. The<br />
company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility with rates<br />
below the national average. Georgia Power serves 2.4 million<br />
customers in all but four of Georgia’s 159 counties.<br />
© 2012 Angel Business Communications.<br />
Permission required.<br />
Issue IX 2012 I www.solar-international.net 21
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