Georgia Power to build 139-MW solar farm at military base

Georgia Power on Tuesday announced plans to build its largest single solar project to date, a 139-MW facility that will be located next to Robins Air Force Base (AFB) in Warner Robins, Georgia.

The project, worth an estimated more than USD 200 million (EUR 181m), was approved Tuesday by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), the company said. Georgia Power expects to carry out various works on the project, including selecting a construction contractor, throughout 2017 and 2018. Construction is to start no earlier than 2018, with commercial operation targeted before the end of 2019.

This will be Georgia Power's sixth large-scale solar project in partnership with the US military. Currently, the company, a subsidiary of Southern Co (NYSE:SO), owns and operates 120 MW of large-scale solar facilities at Georgia military bases and has another 31 MW under construction.

The new solar farm will be built on land reserved to prevent encroachment near the Robins AFB. As with Georgia Power's other military projects, the facility will deliver power to the state's grid at or below the company's avoided cost, the projected cost of generating comparable energy from other sources. The solar project will help the base meet energy security and energy resiliency goals, according to the announcement.

(USD 1 = EUR 0.904)

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