Last week, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) ranked Georgia as the number seven state in the country for 2020 solar installations, the fourth year in a row the state placed in the top 10. Of all those installations, 93 percent of them were Georgia Power.
The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) recently gave the okay for nearly 1,000-megawatts of new solar power and Georgia Power is planning on having 5,400-megawatts of renewable energy resources in its portfolio by 2025. That would represent nearly a quarter of the company’s generation mix. At this point, Georgia Power has one of the largest voluntary renewable portfolios in the country – meaning the PSC is not requiring it but the utility is building it on their own.
“We are proud of our commitment to solar development and the recognition for Georgia by SEIA as a leader in advancing renewable energy for the state we call home,” said Wilson Mallard, director of Renewable Development for Georgia Power. “We have focused on growing cost-effective solar and other renewable energy options for all customers in coordination with the Georgia PSC, and we remind customers to always confirm critical program and participation details before signing up for any solar offer.”
Georgia Power offers several different options for customers interested in solar power. Basically, a customer’s level of commitment or capability can be matched by Georgia Power. Community solar is the most basic plan, offering customers the ability to support the development of solar power by subscribing to a percentage of local solar farms without having to install their own system. For those that can afford it however, solar rooftop installation is available. Georgia Power offers education, consultation and installation service, with connection assistance and the ability to give customers credit for the energy sent back to the grid.
The largest or most comprehensive option gives customers the option of working with a solar developer to build a facility on the customer’s property and Georgia Power will then purchase 100 percent of the energy generated. The utility does not endorse specific solar marketers or engage in door-to-door sales but will work with customers who partner with solar companies themselves.
The announcement comes just a few weeks after hot functional testing at the new Plant Vogtle Unit 3. The unit reached normal operating pressure and temperature during the testing and it marked the last series of major tests ahead of full nuclear fuel load.
Georgia Power, and many of the most outspoken advocates for alternative or cleaner energy, remain committed to solar power. It is worth noting that as the new nuclear reactors come online, a little comparison can be illustrative. One 1,000-megawatt nuclear facility – a little less than the units at Plant Vogtle – requires just over one square mile of space. For a solar facility to match the same amount of space requires somewhere between 45 and 75 square miles. The island of Manhattan is 34 square miles.
