The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) President and CEO Julia Hamm today praised the collaboration between Georgia Power and Atlanta-based Solar Design & Development (SD&D) to develop and install a series of solar projects totaling 19 megawatts (MW) throughout the state. Once complete, Georgia Power’s first retail utility-scale solar power development will more than double Georgia’s solar production.

“The expanding role solar power is playing in Georgia Power’s generation portfolio underscores the utility’s recognition of the critical role of solar in the country’s energy future,” said Hamm. “Innovations and collaborations such as this will continue to drive solar energy’s growth as a sustainable source of electric power.”

The 19 MW of solar capacity, part of Georgia Power’s 50 MW large-scale solar initiative approved last year by the Georgia Public Service Commission, will be added to the company’s growing renewable energy portfolio. Georgia Power has contracted to purchase the output for the next 20 years.

“Georgia Power’s commitment serves as a reminder of the important role solar can play, for the benefit of energy users and the environment alike,” Hamm said.”

In 2011 alone, more than 62,000 new interconnected photovoltaic systems were integrated by utilities. These new systems resulted in almost 1,500 MW of new utility solar capacity, more than twice as much as was added in 2010, which itself had been a record year.

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