Sawnee signs 2nd solar power purchase agreement

CUMMING - The Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation Board of Directors recently approved a 25-year power purchase agreement with Southern Power for 15 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity and the associated energy. The purchase will be made from the new photo-voltaic (PV) solar project which will be built in Taylor County.<br /> <br /> "We are very excited to be participating in this project, along with two (2) other Georgia EMCs" said Michael A. Goodroe, President and CEO of Sawnee EMC. "This transaction is projected to provide our member-consumers with several long-term benefits, one of which is an affordable and reliable renewable energy source over the life of this agreement." <br /> <br /> Construction of the project is scheduled to begin in September of 2015, and it is expected to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2016. <br /> <br /> "This is the second such solar transaction that our Board has approved in the past few months" added Blake House, Vice President of Member Services. "The staff has been very focused on identifying and seeking Board approval for sustainable, central station generation solutions that are in the best long-term interest of our members." he adds.<br /> <br /> Earlier this year, Sawnee entered into a power purchase agreement with Green Power EMC for 10 MW of capacity and the associated energy from a PV facility located in Hazlehurst. <br /> <br /> These two (2) projects, along with Sawnee's other committed renewable generation assets, expands Sawnee's existing generation capacity from what is considered to be renewable resources.

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