Georgia Public Service Commission approves solar facility at MCLB-Albany

MCLB-ALBANY — The Georgia Public Service Commission has approved the construction of a new 46 megawatt (MW) solar facility at Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany to reallocate capacity from the Plant Mitchell biomass project and help the Marine Corps meet its clean energy goals.

Commission officials say the approval follows a Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Navy and Georgia Power Co. with the aim of furthering the Marine Corps’ renewable energy, climate action and energy security goals. This will be the fifth solar facility to be constructed at a Georgia military base as a result of the partnership between the PSC, Georgia Power and the U.S. Department of Defense.

When MCLB-Albany was contacted for a comment Wednesday, Capt. Justin Jacobs, deputy public affairs officer for the installation, said MCLB officials were looking forward to the venture, but that negotiations were still ongoing and that a comment would be provided once the final approval has been signed off on.

Contracts for solar facilities at Fort Gordon, Fort Stewart, Fort Benning and the Kings’ Bay Naval Submarine Base have already been approved. Georgia Power will construct all of these projects, and as with the other self-build projects, the Marine Corps project will be completed by the end of 2016 and have a 35 year life, officials with the commission said.

“With the closing of Plant Mitchell, this project gives us the opportunity to provide jobs and economic development with a clean renewable energy source while at the same time contribute to national energy security,” said Commissioner Doug Everett of Albany, who represents the Southwest Georgia area on the commission. “We hope these projects at our Georgia military bases will also offset any future plans for base closures.”

The project stems from the PSC’s 2014 decision to reallocate 46 MW of capacity from the Plant Mitchell biomass project to other military self-build projects. Officials said the company requested approval from PSC to use the remaining capacity for this purpose. The PSC approved the three U.S. Army projects in October 2014 and the U.S. Navy project in May 2015.

The PSC authorized the building of these four 30 MW projects provided the cost of the projects is equal to or less than the avoided costs, meaning no upward pressure on rates. Officials say the cost of installing solar has dropped dramatically in recent years, allowing Georgia Power to now meet the avoided cost condition.

“The Commission is proud to be able to play a role in improving national security, increasing energy independence, and supporting our Georgia bases,” said Commission Chairman Chuck Eaton.

In January 2014, Georgia Power announced that it plans to file a request with the PSC to decertify Unit 3 at Plant Mitchell in southern Dougherty County, and that the company would be cancelling the previously proposed conversion of the coal-fired unit to biomass. Officials said the decision was made after extensive review and analysis deemed the conversion would not be cost effective for its customers.