Georgia Power to build 139MW Solar Facility at Robins Air Force Base
Georgia Power plans to build a 139 MW solar facility adjacent to Robins AFB (Air Force Base) in Warner Robins, Georgia. The Warner Robins facility will be the largest single solar project to be constructed by Georgia Power and sixth large-scale solar project working with the US military and the Georgia PSC (Public Service Commission).
The new solar facility will be located on 870 acres of land reserved to prevent encroachment near the base, and is expected to include more than 500,000 solar panels. Power from the facility will be delivered to the 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 Robins AFB is estimated to represent a more than $200 million investment and will help to enable the base to meet critical energy security and energy resiliency goals.
Georgia Power’s Renewable Development VP, Norrie McKenzie said that today’s exciting announcement is the result of extensive collaboration between Georgia Power, the Georgia PSC and the U.S. Air Force, as well as the foresight of local leaders and their neighbors in central Georgia. At Robins Air Force Base, and across the state, they have found that they share a mission with their nation’s military to secure local bases and contribute to their country’s energy independence, while also adding cost-effective renewable generation as part of a diverse energy mix to provide their customers with reliable, affordable energy.
Georgia Power expects to conduct planning, engineering and design for the project, as well as a competitive bid process to select a construction contractor, throughout 2017 and 2018. Construction of the facility is expected to begin no earlier than 2018 and the project is expected to enter commercial operation before the end of 2019.
Image: Georgia Power’s vice president of Renewable Development, Norrie McKenzie, announces the plan to build a new 139 megawatt (MW) solar facility adjacent to Robins Air Force Base (AFB) in Warner Robins, Georgia.