Georgia Power has started construction of the 30MW solar facility, fourth large-scale solar project with the military started by Georgia Power this year, joining three other 30 MW facilities currently under construction at US Army bases Fort Gordon, Fort Stewart and Fort Benning.
"The strong partnership with the Navy illustrated by today’s groundbreaking is the result of continued collaboration and energy innovation that sets Georgia apart from other states in solar development," said Paul Bowers, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power at the event. "We welcome the opportunity to continue to support the Navy in their mission to secure their installations while adding a new source of solar energy that will help us meet the future energy needs of our customers, both reliably and affordably."
"Innovative energy technologies and collaborative relationships are important for the Department of the Navy. Secure, reliable, resilient and affordable energy is critical for continuous operations," said the Honorable Dennis V. McGinn, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations & Environment. "Working with an innovator like Georgia Power enables the Department of the Navy to achieve its missions and energy efficiency goals."
Lauren "Bubba" McDonald, Jr., vice-chair of the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), also delivered remarks at the event noting the PSC’s efforts to bring the solar projects to Georgia and encourage solar development in the state while keeping electric rates low for customers.
The SUBASE Kings Bay project is expected to occupy 258 acres on the base and utilize approximately 136,000 ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) panels to deliver energy to the state’s electric grid. The facility is expected to come online by the end of 2016 and to be brought online at or below the company’s avoided cost, the amount projected it would cost the company to generate comparable energy from other sources. The solar project at SUBASE Kings Bay is estimated to represent a $75 million investment at the installation.
Georgia Power is also working with the DON to finalize details for a potential fifth solar project at the Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Albany. In total, Georgia Power’s on-base solar projects are expected to add more than 150 MW of solar generation by the end of 2016.