Southern acquiring fifth solar plant in Georgia

• In May, Southern acquires 103-megawatt Butler Solar Facility in Taylor County from Community Energy Inc.

• Georgia Power plans to build, own and operate three separate 30-MW solar generation facilities on U.S. Army bases in Georgia.

• Georgia Power is selling 700kW of solar to Dalton Utilities under power purchase agreement..

• Georgia Power procuring more than 800 MW from new solar generation in Georgia developed as part of Large Scale Solar and Advanced Solar Initiative programs.

Source: Staff research and Southern Power

Southern Co. is expanding its solar power holdings in Georgia with its fifth plant acquisition in recent years.

Southern Power, a subsidiary, will acquire the Pawpaw Solar Facility in Taylor County from Longview Solar LLC. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The electricity generated from the PawPaw Solar Facility will be sold to Georgia Power, another Southern subsidiary, under a 30-year agreement. Taylor County is about 108 miles south of Atlanta.

Last month, Southern acquired the 103-megatt Butler Solar Facility in Taylor County from Community Energy Inc.

Since 2010, Southern has announced acquisition of about a dozen renewable nergy projects to help expand the company’s portfolio beyond traditional coal, oil and nuclear power generation. In addition to natural gas, the company has expanded investment into solar, biomass and wind.

In addition to Georgia, Southern owns or has the rights to own renewable electric generating plants in eight other states: Alabama, California, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas.

Last month, Southern and Turner Renewable Energy, which is owned by former cable TV mogul Ted Turner, purchased the the Macho Springs Solar Facility.in Luna county New Mexico.