gapower to buy 50 MW solar by 2015

Previously I wrote PSC lining up to vote for solar and last week they went and did it.

Georgia Power will buy solar by 2015, By Associated Press – Athens Banner-Herald, 24 July 2011:

ATLANTA — The Public Service Commission has approved Georgia Power’s plans to buy up to 50 megawatts of solar power by 2015.

The utility plans to strike agreements with individual solar-power producers to meet the deadline. The providers would have to be able to connect to the transmission system for Georgia Power or its sister utilities in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi.

Georgia Power says it plans to enter into 20-year agreements. The PSC unanimously approved the proposal, which was filed after PSC member Lauren McDonald in June gave Georgia Power 30 days to come up with ideas for large-scale solar energy projects.

Georgia Power can currently buy up to 4.4 megawatts of solar power from independent power producers, and collects the costs through a voluntary, premium-priced green power program.