Southern Company subsidiary acquires 103-megawatt Georgia solar project

Southern Company subsidiary Southern Power has acquired the 103 MW Butler solar facility from Community Energy, Inc., in Georgia, USA.

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

The facility, which will be located on approximately 1,070 acres in Taylor County, Georgia, is expected to enter commercial operation in the fourth quarter of 2016. Construction is slated to begin in September 2015, with First Solar, Inc., managing the building, operations and maintenance of the facility.

The Butler solar facility is expected to consist of more than 1 million of First Solar's thin-film photovoltaic solar modules mounted on single-axis tracking tables.

The electricity and associated renewable energy credits (RECs) generated by the facility will be sold under a 30-year power purchase agreement with Georgia Power, which will have the option to keep or sell the RECs, for the benefit of its customers or renewable energy programs.

Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning, stated:

"The Butler solar facility builds on Southern Company's innovative approach to diversifying our nation's energy mix. Our strategic development of solar in Georgiacontinues our company's expansion of renewable energy generation in the Southeast."

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