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At Georgia Army bases Fort Gordon near Augusta and Fort Stewart near Savannah, Georgia Power broke ground of a new solar project: Georgia 3x30. The project was first announced in 2014 by Georgia Power and the U.S. Army. It consists of the developing of three 30MW solar generation facilities at three separate Army bases throughout the state. Each of the projects would cover over 200 acres, and they are scheduled to be completed and begin generating electricity by the end of 2016.
At groundbreaking events at the bases last Thursday and Friday, leadership from the company, the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), the U.S. Army, the U.S. Army Office of Energy Initiatives (OEI) and the General Services Administration (GSA) gathered with community leaders and others to tour the site and mark the beginning of development.
"These solar projects support the Army and their mission to not only strengthen local Georgia bases as economic and community engines, but also their efforts to further the development of renewable energy and enhance national security," said Kenny Coleman, senior vice president of marketing for Georgia Power on Friday.
As part of the review and approval of the company's 2007 Integrated Resource Plan, the Georgia PSC approved the development of three cost-effective renewable projects of up to 30 MW to be owned by Georgia Power. The three projects will be brought online at or below the company's avoided cost, the amount projected it would cost the company to generate comparable energy from other sources.
Georgia PSC Commissioners Chuck Eaton and Stan Wise attended the events and noted the combined efforts to bring the solar projects to Georgia and keep rates low for customers.