Southern Company, an Atlanta-based energy firm, has been focusing on developing, acquiring and investing in renewable energies. It plans to become one of U.S.’s largest renewable energy portfolios. The target was approached as three subsidiaries contributed to five large-scale solar projects, over 160MW of additional PV portfolios, in three states last week.
Subsidiaries Georgia Power, Gulf Power and Southern Power are contributing to the company's 3,100- MW of announced or completed renewable energy generating capacity. The acquired or developed projects are:
- Gulf Power received Florida Public Service Commission approval to develop 120 MW of utility-scale solar at three military installations: Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach (30 MW), and Navy facilities Holley Field in Navarre (40 MW) and Saufley Field in Pensacola (50 MW).
- Southern Power announced the acquisition of a controlling interest in the 32-MW Lost Hills-Blackwell Solar Facility in California from First Solar, Inc.
- Georgia Power and U.S. Army officials held a groundbreaking of a 30-MW solar installation at Fort Benning near Columbus, Ga. The project is one of three solar installations totaling 90 MW being developed at military bases through a partnership between Georgia Power and the Army.
"Investing today in sustainable energy innovations will make a better tomorrow for customers," said Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning. "We are inspired by the momentum we are developing with these new partnerships to deliver clean energy and real, measurable results."
The company views the development of the full portfolio of energy resources – renewables, nuclear, 21st century coal, natural gas and energy efficiency – as a commitment to leverage each of these resources for the benefit of the millions of families the Southern Company system is privileged to serve.
The Southern Company system's robust renewable energy portfolio is comprised of a total of 42 solar projects in six states, including Georgia Power's development of the nation's largest voluntary solar initiative.
