(Bloomberg) — Southern Co., the third-largest U.S. utility
owner by market value, is planning to build a 131-megawatt solar
farm in Georgia.
The power plant will supply energy for more than 21,000
homes, the Atlanta-based company said today in a statement.
Construction on a 911-acre site in Taylor County is expected to
begin in September, with commercial operation scheduled for the
fourth quarter of 2016. First Solar Inc. is providing the panels
and engineering services.
The electricity and associated renewable-energy credits
from the plant will be sold to Cobb Electric Membership Corp.,
Flint Electric Membership Corp. and Sawnee Electric Membership
Corp. under 25-year contracts.
Southern and Turner Renewable Energy LLC have jointly
purchased seven solar projects since the start of 2010. In
October, the utility holding company bought a project in
California from First Solar, with the panel maker agreeing to
buy back a minority stake.
Duke Energy Corp. and NextEra Energy Inc. are the two
largest U.S. power companies by market value.
To contact the reporter on this story:
Justin Doom in New York at
jdoom1@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story:
Reed Landberg at
landberg@bloomberg.net
Will Wade, Carlos Caminada