ATLANTA, Dec. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power today
dedicated the first of two planned solar facilities to supply its
new Community Solar program. The two megawatt (MW) solar project,
comprised of 8,200 panels and covering more than 10 acres in
northeast Georgia, will deliver
energy for the new program which gives subscribers a bill credit
based on actual solar energy production at the facility. Leaders
from Georgia Power, Georgia Public Service Commissioners Lauren
"Bubba" McDonald and Tim Echols, as
well as community and business leaders marked the occasion at a
special event in Comer,
Georgia.
"Collaboration between Georgia Power, the Georgia Public Service
Commission, solar companies and communities across the state have
helped continue to position Georgia as a national solar leader," said
Greg Roberts, vice president pricing
and planning for Georgia Power. "Community Solar is the latest
addition to a variety of Georgia Power programs that give customers
the flexibility to choose how they want to support the growth of
solar energy in our state."
While the Community Solar program launches in January 2018, Georgia Power opened pre-enrollment
for interested customers in October. In addition to the new
Comer facility dedicated today,
the company plans to construct another one-MW facility to supply
the program in another part of the state.
Is Community Solar Right for You?
Designed in
coordination with and approved by the Georgia Public Service
Commission, Community Solar is ideal for residential customers who
want to support solar, especially those who are unable to install a
photovoltaic (PV) system at their homes, including renters and
condominium owners, or homeowners with shaded roof space or
restrictive covenants. Participation in the program will cost
$24.99 per 1 kilowatt (kW) block per
month in exchange for a monthly credit based on a solar facility's
production. Customers are limited to their estimated monthly energy
usage – and a maximum of 10 1-kW blocks, with a total of 3,000
blocks available for subscription. The solar production of a 1 kW
subscription block will vary due to season, number of cloudy days
and other factors, but is estimated to be in the range of 130 – 240
kilowatt-hours per month.
Renewable Energy Growth in Georgia
Georgia Power's robust renewable development
strategy includes innovative customer programs such as Simple
Solar, as well as large-scale initiatives such as the Advanced
Solar Initiative (ASI) and the Renewable Energy Development
Initiative (REDI). The company continues to have the largest
voluntary renewable portfolio in the country and now has
approximately 900 MW* of solar capacity in operation, with
accelerating growth year over year since 2013. Through continued
expansion of solar at Georgia
military bases, implementation of the new REDI, as well as other
solar projects and programs, the company expects to add up to 1,600
MW* of additional renewable capacity by 2021.
To learn more about Georgia Power's solar programs, including
Community Solar and other solar tools and resources for customers,
visit www.GeorgiaPower.com/Solar.
* REC Disclaimer: Every megawatt hour of electricity produced
by an eligible solar generation resource creates a Renewable Energy
Credit (REC). Georgia Power purchases only the null energy output
from some renewable generating facilities that have contracted to
sell that energy to Georgia Power. Ownership of the associated RECs
is specified in each respective power purchase agreement. The party
that owns the RECs retains the right to use them.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern
Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value,
Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones
of the company's promise to 2.5 million customers in all but four
of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean,
safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national
average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation
mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as
renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power
focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every
day and the company is consistently recognized by J.D. Power and
Associates as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more
information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with
the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter
(Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram
(Instagram.com/ga_power).
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SOURCE Georgia Power