Green Power EMC, the renewable energy supplier for 38 Georgia Electric Membership Corporations, and Nashville-based solar energy provider Silicon Ranch Corporation today announced an agreement to significantly expand their solar energy portfolio in Georgia.  As part of the agreement, Green Power EMC and Silicon Ranch will bring an additional 194 megawatts (MW_AC) of solar energy online by the year 2021.

The new solar capacity will comprise utility scale, single-axis tracking solar arrays distributed across four locations in middle and south Georgia.  Sites have been selected for each of the facilities pending successful negotiation of all agreements with the local government entities. When completed in the year 2021, the total solar energy portfolio will produce enough electricity to economically serve approximately 35,000 EMC households.

Electric cooperatives in Georgia are embracing solar technology.  This additional 194MWAC of solar energy, when combined with a recent announcement of a separate 200MWAC solar procurement, will more than double the current renewable capacity received by the Georgia-based cooperatives.  EMCs' 2018 solar power portfolio of 245MWAC will jump to approximately 639MWAC when construction is complete in 2021.

Jeff Pratt, president of Green Power EMC said, "We are excited about this opportunity to help Georgia electric cooperatives grow their portfolio of renewable energy.  The jobs and investment created by these cost-effective projects will provide long term economic benefits to rural Georgia communities.  At the same time, more solar energy in our EMCs' energy mix will have a positive environmental impact well into the future." 

Under the agreement, Silicon Ranch will own and operate the solar facilities, and Green Power EMC will purchase the energy produced over a 30-year period on behalf of 30 electric cooperative members. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year.

"All of us at Silicon Ranch commend the participating EMCs of Georgia for their forward-thinking, customer focused approach to serving their members and communities," said Matt Kisber, President and Chief Executive Officer of Silicon Ranch.  "The decision to expand the availability of clean, renewable energy throughout Georgia adds to the strength of our meaningful relationship with Green Power EMC."