Southern Power acquires 103-MW solar project

Southern Power, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Co, Georgia, has acquired a 103-megawatt solar farm from Community Energy.

Expected to be operational in the fourth quarter of next year, The Butler power plant is coming up on roughly 1,000 acres in Taylor County.

According to a statement issued by the company on Thursday, US-based photovoltaic module maker First Solar is developing the project and will maintain it.

The Butler project will be comprised of more than 1 million thin film modules made by First Solar.

Georgia Power will purchase the power generated by the project under a 30-year power purchase agreement. It also retains the option to sell the renewable energy credits generated by the facility for the benefit of its customers or renewable energy programs.

Southern Power has bought or is developing than 1.1 gigawatts of renewable-energy capacity, including four solar power projects in Georgia, the statement reports.

The Butler project, which was initially developed by Community Energy, was selected by Southern Company subsidiary Georgia Power in a competitive process through the Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative.

The acquisition of Butler project takes the portfolio of Southern Power and its subsidiaries to 25 facilities in nine states — Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas — with more than 9,700 MW of generating capacity either operating or under development.

Ajith Kumar S

[email protected]