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Solar Partnership Brings More Renewable Power to Georgia

PLAINS, Ga. — Urban Grid, a Stevensville, Md.-based developer and financier of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects throughout the U.S., recently announced a partnership with SolAmerica Energy of Atlanta for work on a solar field in Plains. The 10-acre solar field will be co-financed by the two companies on land that is leased by President Jimmy Carter. The site will include a 1.3-megawatt solar project that is expected to generate more than 50 percent of Plains’ power needs.

Urban Grid has plans to continue investing in Georgia’s solar power market and sees the new project as one that can be replicated in areas throughout Georgia and other parts of the U.S., according to a statement by the company. Currently, Urban Grid is preparing to bid multiple solar projects into the Georgia Power Utility Scale RFP in April 2017.

“Georgia’s move toward solar energy is especially progressive and sets the stage for other regions in the country to follow suit,” said Frank DePew, president of Urban Grid, in a statement. “We are committed to helping expand the renewable energy footprint in Georgia through our continuing efforts on the development of and investment in more high quality solar projects.”

Through a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Georgia Power, the solar project on Carter’s leased site will help expand the growth of renewable energy assets in Georgia and contribute to the overall economy of Plains, according to a statement.

President Carter, an early advocate and leader of the renewable energy movement during his tenure in the White House, created the Department of Energy and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and signed the Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURPA) — all of which were catalysts for the advancement of renewable energy in the U.S. Carter was also the first president to put solar panels on the White House.

“Having a strong advocate of renewable energy like President Carter endorse our solar projects helps pave the way for other communities to consider, plan for and take advantage of the conservation and cost benefits of using solar energy,” DePew said in a statement.

At present, no exact timeframe has been reported regarding the completion of the solar field.