Program will create opportunities for more families, businesses to go solar

WASHINGTON, DC – The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) today approved a roadmap put forth by the Georgia Power Company for how the company intends to create one of the nation's largest voluntarily-developed solar portfolios by an investor-owned utility.

To meet the 210 MW target put forth in the Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative (GPASI), Georgia Power will add 90 MW of generation over 2013, 2014 and 2015 through a distributed sliding scale program for residential and commercial projects. The company will also add 120 MW of utility-scale generation projects between 2013 and 2015. The completed 210 megawatts of solar electric capacity will be enough to power nearly 20,000 average Georgia households.

Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association said, "We applaud the Georgia Public Service Commission for approving this plan by Georgia Power to help grow Georgia's burgeoning solar energy market. Approval of the GPASI is a great first step towards Georgia meeting its full solar potential. We're especially encouraged that the PSC and Georgia Power chose to add more distributed generation into this plan than what was originally proposed. This key addition will allow more families and businesses to go solar, while creating jobs throughout the state."

Peter Corbett, president and chairman of Georgia SEIA said, "Georgia SEIA is grateful for the efforts by the Georgia PSC and their staff to make the GPASI a reality. We are very pleased about the amount of distributed generation the PSC has included, which will make great strides in both expanding solar where it's needed most and helping it to become a key component of the energy mix for the rate base."

The solar industry more than doubled the amount of solar installed in the U.S. in the second quarter of this year compared to 2011, with growth continuing in the second half of 2012. Today, the solar industry employs more than 119,000 Americans at 5,600 companies, mostly small businesses, across all 50 states. The top 10 states for total solar electric capacity are (in descending order): California, New Jersey, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York and North Carolina. Georgia is not currently ranked in the top 25 states in terms of installed capacity in the latest Solar Market Insight® report, but the GPASI projects are likely to propel the state much higher on the list in the coming years.

About SEIA:
Established in 1974, the Solar Energy Industries Association® is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Through advocacy and education, SEIA® is building a strong solar industry to power America. As the voice of the industry, SEIA works with its 1,100 member companies to make solar a mainstream and significant energy source by expanding markets, removing market barriers strengthening the industry and educating the public on the benefits of solar energy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org.