Obligatory shot of peaches to stand in for general news about Georgia.
The Georgia Public Service Commission today by a 4-1 vote approved a revised Georgia Power Company Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) that will include an additional 1,600 Megawatts (MW) of renewable energy by 2021.
“Adding renewables and nuclear together makes sense,” said Commissioner Tim Echols. “I am committed to keeping rates low and energy plentiful, diverse and clean.”
Some details on the approvals:
1. Approval of an increase in the Renewable Energy Development Initiative (REDI) so that the Company will procure 1,200 MW (150 MW of Distributed Generation (DG) and 1,050 MW of utility scale resources.) The utility scale procurement will take place through two separate Requests for Proposals (RFP), one in 2017 and one in 2019. No more than 300 MW of wind resources will be procured through REDI. This resource is broken down into 100 MW DG and 50 MW customer sited, both from 1 MW to 3 MW in size.
2. Approval of an additional 100 MW of DG with an RFP to be issued in 2017 with a commercial operation date of 2018 or 2019.
3. Approval of an additional 200 MW of self-build renewable capacity to develop renewable projects including potential projects at Robins Air Force Base and Fort Benning. The projects must be at or below the Company’s avoided costs. No more than 75 MW of this capacity may be used for nonmilitary projects.
4. Approval of 1 MW for a pilot solar demonstration project by “The Ray” along the Interstate 85 corridor near LaGrange, Georgia to be completed by 2019. This is included in the 75 MW of non-military selfbuild.
5. Approval to include 3 MW of self-build community solar by Georgia Power. This is included in the 75 MW of non-military self-build.
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6. Approval of the Company’s High Wind Study. The Company will file quarterly reports on the status of the Study.
7. An increase in the Company’s long term reserve planning margin to 16.25 per cent.
8. The decertification (closure, retirement and decommissioning) of Plant Mitchell Units 3, 4A, and 4B, Plant Kraft Unit 1 CT and Intercession City CT. The agreement limits annual spending on retirement costs to $1 million. The Company will file with the Commission prior to incurring any increase in that spending.
9. Approval of the Company’s closed ash pond solar demonstration project.
The commission also approved a nuclear power plant decision, but we will skip over that part of the story.
— Solar Builder magazine
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