Southern Company accelerates sustainable energy innovations with five solar projects in three states

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Apr 17, 2015, 01:00 ET

ATLANTA, April 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Three Southern Company subsidiaries this week are marking major milestones in the strategic expansion of one of the nation's largest renewable energy portfolios through the announced development or acquisition of five large-scale solar projects.

Subsidiaries Georgia Power, Gulf Power and Southern Power are contributing to the company's 3,100-megawatts (MW) of announced or completed renewable energy generating capacity with more than 160 MW of photovoltaic (PV) solar.

This week:

Gulf Power received Florida Public Service Commission approval to develop 120 MW of utility-scale solar at three military installations: Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach (30 MW), and Navy facilities Holley Field in Navarre (40 MW) and Saufley Field in Pensacola (50 MW).
Southern Power announced the acquisition of a controlling interest in the 32-MW Lost Hills-Blackwell Solar Facility in California from First Solar, Inc.
Georgia Power and U.S. Army officials held a groundbreaking of a 30-MW solar installation at Fort Benning near Columbus, Ga. The project is one of three solar installations totaling 90 MW being developed at military bases through a partnership between Georgia Power and the Army.

"Investing today in sustainable energy innovations will make a better tomorrow for customers," said Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning. "We are inspired by the momentum we are developing with these new partnerships to deliver clean energy and real, measurable results."

The company views the development of the full portfolio of energy resources – renewables, nuclear, 21^st century coal, natural gas and energy efficiency – as more than a goal. In fact, it is the company's commitment to leverage each of these resources for the benefit of the millions of families the Southern Company system is privileged to serve.

The Southern Company system's robust renewable energy portfolio is comprised of a total of 42 solar projects in six states, including Georgia Power's development of the nation's largest voluntary solar initiative. Last month, Southern Power announced the acquisition of the company's largest renewable energy project – the 299-MW Kay Wind facility in Oklahoma. In addition, subsidiaries Alabama Power, Georgia Power and Gulf Power have contracted to put more than 800 MW of wind energy to work for customers in the Southeast, and Southern Power operates one of the nation's largest biomass power plants in Texas.

With more than 4.5 million customers and approximately 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast through its subsidiaries. A leading U.S. producer of clean, safe, reliable and affordable electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for energy innovation, excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are below the national average. Southern Company and its subsidiaries are leading the nation's nuclear renaissance through the construction of the first new nuclear units to be built in a generation of Americans and are demonstrating their commitment to energy innovation through the development of a state-of-the-art coal gasification plant. Southern Company has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, listed by DiversityInc as a top company for Blacks and designated a 2014 Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company received the Edison Award from the Edison Electric Institute for its leadership in new nuclear development, was named Electric Light & Power magazine's Utility of the Year for 2012 and is continually ranked among the top utilities in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

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