Carroll EMC Participates in Large Solar Installation
CARROLLTON, GA – Tim Martin, President and CEO of Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative, announced Wednesday that the company’s renewable energy supplier, Green Power EMC, has reached an agreement to purchase the full output of a new 52 Megawatt AC solar array planned for construction in Jeff Davis County near Hazlehurst, Georgia. Carroll EMC is among 27 Georgia electric cooperatives that will receive solar energy from that solar project, helping to make Georgia the fastest-growing solar state in the U.S.
The 52 MW solar array will occupy approximately 600 acres, will include technology that allows the panels to track the sun from east to west, and will produce enough electricity to serve approximately 8,500 EMC households. Once completed, the 52 MW array will generate more than 134 million kilowatt hours of clean, renewable electricity annually. That amount of clean energy offsets 92,500 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the annual emissions from burning 10,400,000 gallons of gasoline, or the emissions from more than 19,500 automobiles.
This is the second such agreement that Green Power EMC has executed with owner-operator Silicon Ranch Corporation. Under the agreement, Silicon Ranch will own and operate the solar array and Green Power EMC will purchase all the energy and environmental attributes it produces at cost-competitive rates for a 30-year period. Construction on the 52 MW array is scheduled to begin early 2016 and the facility will be ready to produce electricity in the fall of 2016.
Jerome Johnston, chief operating officer for Carroll EMC, said the 52 Megawatt project is the result of a request for proposals issued in late 2013 to add more solar energy to Green Power EMC’s portfolio. The company provides renewable energy to 38 of Georgia’s EMCs.
“The addition of one of the largest solar projects in Georgia to our power generation portfolio demonstrates our commitment to Georgia’s renewable resources,” said Johnston. “We are excited to be a part of this major expansion of solar energy in Georgia.”
Green Power EMC and its partner, Silicon Ranch, have also developed a 20 MWAC solar array in Jeff Davis County near Hazlehurst that began producing electricity earlier this month. Both projects total more than 72 MWAC of capacity and combined will more than triple the total renewable capacity of Green Power EMC – from the current 32 MW to about 104 MW. Collectively, the two Hazlehurst projects are set to be one of the largest solar generating facilities in Georgia and will propel Jeff Davis County into position as one of the top solar communities in the United States.
Carroll EMC is a Member-owned cooperative providing electricity to approximately 50,000 homes and businesses. The co-op serves Members in Carroll, Haralson, Heard, Paulding, Polk and Troup counties. For more information visit the cooperative’s website at carrollemc.com or follow Carroll EMC on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Green Power EMC was the first green energy provider in the state. It was created by Georgia’s EMCs in 2001 and has been selling green energy since 2003. In addition to landfill gas generation, Green Power EMC obtains green power from renewable facilities all over the state, including low-impact hydroelectric, biomass from wood waste and solar power. EMCs that own Green Power EMC serve more than 4.1 million Georgia residents. For more information about renewable energy efforts in Georgia visit greenpoweremc.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative
Jay Gill
Manager, Communications/PR/Government Relations
770-832-3522
