Tradewind Energy, an independent wind and solar project development company, reached an agreement to sell two solar projects in Decatur County, Ga. to Southern Company subsidiary Southern Power.
The Decatur Parkway Solar Project and the Decatur County Solar Project are expected to produce 80 MW and 19 MW respectively of solar energy when each project comes on line, which is currently scheduled for late 2015. Decatur Parkway will be sited on more than 750 acres, while the Decatur County project will be on nearly 170 acres, with both projects being located in or adjacent to the Decatur County Industrial Air Park north of Bainbridge, Ga.
The Decatur projects were sited by Tradewind, and development began in June of 2013. They were among just 10 projects selected last year through Southern Company subsidiary Georgia Power’s 2015 Advanced Solar Initiative bid process. The two Decatur projects represent nearly 20 percent of the total 515 MWs of capacity procured by Georgia Power. Power generated at both sites will be purchased by Georgia Power under long-term contracts. Georgia Power will receive the renewable energy credits (RECs) from the Decatur County Solar Project, and Southern Power will retain the RECs from the Decatur Parkway Solar Project, which it may sell to third parties.
“We were thrilled that our Decatur County projects were selected by Georgia Power for this exciting opportunity, and since being selected we have found Southern Power to be an ideal partner for us to bring these projects to completion,” said Rob Freeman, CEO of Tradewind Energy. “We want to thank the officials in Decatur County for their tremendous leadership in helping to make these projects a true win-win for all involved.”
These projects mark the second and third utility scale solar projects to be acquired and built by Southern Power in Georgia.
“With these two projects, Southern Power and its partners have developed more than 640 MW of solar generation across America since 2012,” said Southern Power President and CEO Oscar Harper. “We are pleased to partner with Tradewind and acquire the Decatur Solar projects – adding renewable resources to further strengthen our growing energy portfolio.”
The projects will also benefit the local community.
“This increase to our tax rolls will provide a huge benefit to the citizens of Decatur County and our Public School System,” said Rick McCaskill, Executive Director of the Development Authority of Bainbridge-Decatur County. “This has been a team effort among the county, Tradewind, Southern Power and neighboring industries such as the bio-polymer company MHG. Working with quality organizations such as Tradewind Energy and Southern Power has given the county a comfort level that these projects will be built to high standards.”
