Kings Bay, Navy brass say having solar farm on base provided energy security inside fence line
Kings Bay commanding officer, Capt. James Jenks, from left, Rear Adm. Mary M. Jackson, commander of U.S. Navy Region Southeast, Georgia Power Senior Vice President of Marketing Kenneth E. Coleman
Georgia Power is currently developing more than 150 MW of solar generation to serve the state’s electric customers through strategic projects with the DON and the U.S. Army. In addition to the facilities now online at SUBASE Kings Bay and Fort Benning, new Georgia Power solar facilities are under construction at Fort Gordon, Fort Stewart and the Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Albany.
“Within a year, this site on the Georgia coast has been transformed into a state-of-the-art solar facility that will provide energy for our state for years to come,” said Norrie McKenzie, vice president of renewable development for Georgia Power. “As we look forward to bringing additional on-base solar facilities on line, we appreciate the Navy’s continued partnership and recognition of the importance of this new energy source for our customers, the bases and local communities.”
The SUBASE Kings Bay solar facility was built and is owned and operated by Georgia Power with energy delivered to state’s electric grid at or below the company’s avoided cost (the amount projected it would cost the company to generate comparable energy from other sources). The solar project at SUBASE Kings Bay occupies 254 acres, utilizes approximately 133,000 ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) panels and is estimated to represent a $75 million investment at the installation.
In coordination with the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), Georgia Power continues to develop renewable energy as part of a diverse generation portfolio through programs designed to prevent upward pressure on customer rates. Through the company’s various solar initiatives, millions of solar panels are being added to Georgia’s energy landscape. Most recently, Georgia Power received approval from the Georgia PSC to add up to 1,600 MW of new renewable generation by 2021, as well as new demonstration projects to study wind and solar generation opportunities as part of its 2016 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).
A leader in renewable development, Georgia Power was recently named to the Smart Electric Power Alliance’s (SEPA) annual Top 10 Utility Solar list in recognition of solar connections to the state’s electric grid in 2015 and was previously named the 2014 Investor-Owned Utility of the Year by the organization. To learn more about Georgia Power’s solar programs, including resources available for residential and business customers considering solar energy, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com/Solar.