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Released March 16, 2017 | SUGAR LAND
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Written by John Egan for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--As one of the nation's largest utility holding companies, Southern Company (NYSE:SO) (Atlanta, Georgia) is behind some of the biggest and most controversial electricity projects in the U.S., including the $16.2 billion in unit additions at the Alvin W. Vogtle Nuclear Power Station and the $6.95 billion Ratcliffe Kemper County Power Station, an integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) power generation facility in Mississippi.
But Southern also is building a hefty portfolio of renewable generation in its home state of Georgia and across the country. Acquisitions account for most, but not all, of this portfolio. Southern Power Company (Atlanta), the wholesale power unit of Southern Company, owns more than 3,200 MW of renewable generation across 36 solar, wind and biomass facilities that have been announced or acquired, or are under construction. In total, the Southern Company system has added or announced more than 6,500 MW of renewable generation since 2012.
That sum includes moves by Georgia Power Company (Atlanta), Southern Company's regulated electric company in Georgia, to get into the renewable power game. The utility has built or bought about 846 MW of solar projects in the Peach State, and earlier this year pledged to add up to 1,600 MW of new solar in Georgia over the next five years. These planned additions were approved last year by the Georgia Public Service Commission (Atlanta) as part of the utility's long-range generating resource plan.
Georgia regulators have wanted Georgia Power to take steps to add more renewable energy to its system supply for years. For more on that, see February 10, 2014, article - Georgia Power Company Wants to Become Greener Faster.
"We continue to focus on introducing new products, services and programs that bring renewable energy to our state without putting upward pressure on rates and ensuring 24/7 reliability for customers," Norrie McKenzie, vice president of renewable development for Georgia Power, said in a statement earlier this year announcing the utility's solar ramp-up. "Thanks to the efforts of many, Georgia is a national solar leader in pioneering customer-focused solar developments which bring value for all of the state's electric customers."
Right now, Georgia Power is building a 30-MW solar project at Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) in Albany, Georgia. That project is expected to be operational in the next few months. Last year, the utility dedicated four 30-MW solar generation stations in other military bases across Georgia. The facilities were built on three Army bases and one Navy base. The utility said these five solar projects, built, owned and operated to serve its customers, "are the result of continued collaboration with the U.S. military to increase renewable energy resources while adding energy security for the bases." For more on this, see December 29, 2014, article - Georgia Power to Build 90 MW of Solar Power on Georgia Army Bases.
Southern Company or its subsidiaries are developing or constructing five renewable energy projects in the U.S. valued at about $528 million, according to Industrial Info's North American Project Platform.
Given the financial and operational problems Southern Company has experienced with adding two nuclear units to the Vogtle nuclear plant and constructing the Kemper County IGCC, the company's wholesale power arm only is looking to acquire renewable energy projects backed by long-term power-purchase agreements with established counter-parties.
Upon acquiring two Texas windfarms last December, Southern Power President and Chief Executive Buzz Miller said, "Southern Power is committed to strategically growing our wind generation portfolio." In a statement, Southern Power said these projects support its "business strategy of growing its wholesale business through the acquisition and construction of generating assets substantially covered by long-term contracts."
"Southern Company's various units have been expanding their renewable energy portfolio for several years, and Georgia Power's plan to add up to 1,600 MW of new solar in Georgia over the next five years is a bold step," said Britt Burt, Industrial Info's vice president of research for the Global Power Industry. "Declining costs for solar and wind, coupled with a regulatory mandate in the state of Georgia, have propelled one of the largest utilities in the U.S. to significant new investments in renewable energy."
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com.
But Southern also is building a hefty portfolio of renewable generation in its home state of Georgia and across the country. Acquisitions account for most, but not all, of this portfolio. Southern Power Company (Atlanta), the wholesale power unit of Southern Company, owns more than 3,200 MW of renewable generation across 36 solar, wind and biomass facilities that have been announced or acquired, or are under construction. In total, the Southern Company system has added or announced more than 6,500 MW of renewable generation since 2012.
That sum includes moves by Georgia Power Company (Atlanta), Southern Company's regulated electric company in Georgia, to get into the renewable power game. The utility has built or bought about 846 MW of solar projects in the Peach State, and earlier this year pledged to add up to 1,600 MW of new solar in Georgia over the next five years. These planned additions were approved last year by the Georgia Public Service Commission (Atlanta) as part of the utility's long-range generating resource plan.
Georgia regulators have wanted Georgia Power to take steps to add more renewable energy to its system supply for years. For more on that, see February 10, 2014, article - Georgia Power Company Wants to Become Greener Faster.
"We continue to focus on introducing new products, services and programs that bring renewable energy to our state without putting upward pressure on rates and ensuring 24/7 reliability for customers," Norrie McKenzie, vice president of renewable development for Georgia Power, said in a statement earlier this year announcing the utility's solar ramp-up. "Thanks to the efforts of many, Georgia is a national solar leader in pioneering customer-focused solar developments which bring value for all of the state's electric customers."
Right now, Georgia Power is building a 30-MW solar project at Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) in Albany, Georgia. That project is expected to be operational in the next few months. Last year, the utility dedicated four 30-MW solar generation stations in other military bases across Georgia. The facilities were built on three Army bases and one Navy base. The utility said these five solar projects, built, owned and operated to serve its customers, "are the result of continued collaboration with the U.S. military to increase renewable energy resources while adding energy security for the bases." For more on this, see December 29, 2014, article - Georgia Power to Build 90 MW of Solar Power on Georgia Army Bases.
Southern Company or its subsidiaries are developing or constructing five renewable energy projects in the U.S. valued at about $528 million, according to Industrial Info's North American Project Platform.
Given the financial and operational problems Southern Company has experienced with adding two nuclear units to the Vogtle nuclear plant and constructing the Kemper County IGCC, the company's wholesale power arm only is looking to acquire renewable energy projects backed by long-term power-purchase agreements with established counter-parties.
Upon acquiring two Texas windfarms last December, Southern Power President and Chief Executive Buzz Miller said, "Southern Power is committed to strategically growing our wind generation portfolio." In a statement, Southern Power said these projects support its "business strategy of growing its wholesale business through the acquisition and construction of generating assets substantially covered by long-term contracts."
"Southern Company's various units have been expanding their renewable energy portfolio for several years, and Georgia Power's plan to add up to 1,600 MW of new solar in Georgia over the next five years is a bold step," said Britt Burt, Industrial Info's vice president of research for the Global Power Industry. "Declining costs for solar and wind, coupled with a regulatory mandate in the state of Georgia, have propelled one of the largest utilities in the U.S. to significant new investments in renewable energy."
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com.
