MEAG Power on May 27 announced that Pineview Solar LLC, a utility-scale solar energy facility in Wilcox County, Georgia, entered commercial operation and is now serving 22 MEAG Power Participant communities with 80 MW of generation.
The Participants that are part of the 15-year power purchase agreement MEAG Power has with Pineview include Albany, Blakely, Buford, Cairo, Calhoun, Camilla, Cartersville, College Park, Covington, Crisp County, Douglas, East Point, Forsyth, Griffin, LaGrange, Marietta, Monroe, Moultrie, Newnan, Palmetto, Thomasville, and Oxford.
“The addition of 80 MW of solar generation—enough to serve 15,000 households each year— gives our Participants a generation resource with long-term price stability and protection against spikes in energy market prices,” said MEAG Power President & CEO Jim Fuller. “The Participants will receive energy at a fixed price, pay only for the energy produced and collect renewable energy credits for each MWh produced. Offering non-emitting solar power also will enhance their ability to attract businesses and residents to their communities.”
The Pineview facility is owned by Linea Energy, a developer and operator of sustainable energy solutions, and was constructed by Discovery Industries.
It utilizes innovative technologies, including bifacial solar panels and racking equipment that tracks the sun. Bifacial panels capture sunlight on both sides of the panel, taking advantage of light reflecting off the ground, while the racking systems adjust their tilt so that they follow the sun throughout the day, maximizing their energy production, MEAG Power said.
“For MEAG Power, the addition of solar energy will enhance the affordability, diversity and emissions-free profile of our generation portfolio, which has delivered, on average, 65% emissions-free energy since 2016.” said Fuller.
MEAG Power is a nonprofit, statewide generation and transmission organization created by the Georgia General Assembly in 1975.
MEAG Power provides reliable, competitive wholesale electricity to its 49 member communities that own their local distribution systems, through take-or-pay contracts.
The organization also monitors and advocates on energy issues at the state and federal levels on behalf of its Participants.
MEAG Power is among the top public power companies nationwide in terms of annual net generation, megawatt-hour sales and electric revenue. Its diverse, clean energy portfolio – delivering, on average, more than 65% emissions-free energy since 2016 – compares favorably with both the state and national averages, it notes.
