A German firm has won the contract to build what it calls Georgia's largest solar farm as state regulators are showing increasing openness to the renewable energy source. Los Angeles-based Phoenix Solar Inc., a subsidiary of Germany's Phoenix Solar AG, is partnering with Nashville-based Silicon Ranch Corp. on the 38.6-megawatt installation called Simon Solar Farm 30 miles east of Atlanta, Phoenix announced June 8. Georgia Power Inc. launched its Advanced Solar Initiative in November, through which the utility said it would voluntarily issue contracts for 210 megawatts of capacity through small and utility-scale installations over the next two years. Additionally, the Georgia Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities, voted on July 11 to require Georgia Power to add 525 megawatts of solar power to its portfolio over the next 20 years, noting that costs of solar have dropped significantly along with the cost of panels. Georgia Power has agreed to buy electricity generated from the Simon farm over the next 20 years through a Power Purchase Agreement. Construction has begun on the farm, which is set to begin feeding electricity into the grid by the end of the year. Phoenix and Silicon Ranch have partnered on other large-scale solar projects in the Southeast, including an installation at the Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga, Tenn. http://www.globalatlanta.com/article/26402/...-solar-farm-in-georgia/
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