Alabama Municipal Electric Authority (AMEA) and Lightsource BP announced today the development of a 130 MWDC / 100 MWAC solar energy project in Montgomery County, Alabama. Lightsource BP will finance, develop, build, own, and operate the solar facility and will deliver energy to AMEA under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA). The project, situated 15 miles from AMEA’s headquarters in Montgomery, will supply clean energy to AMEA’s 11 Member utilities located across the state and will generate enough electricity to power more than 20,000 homes.
“AMEA is excited to bring cost-effective, locally-sourced solar energy to our Member communities,” said Fred Clark, President & CEO of AMEA. “We evaluated solar projects across the Southeast and were fortunate to partner on a great project with Lightsource BP right here in our own backyard. We’re extremely pleased to bring this project to Montgomery County and to the state of Alabama.”
The project will be one of the largest solar arrays in Alabama when it reaches completion in 2021, deploying over 350,000 solar panels across 800 acres. Lightsource BP and project investors will invest approximately $125 million into the solar facility. In addition to providing clean energy and bill savings to AMEA’s Members and their customers, the project will contribute over $5 million in property tax revenue to county schools over the 35-year project life.
“I am grateful that another company is investing significantly in Montgomery,” said Montgomery County Commission Chair Elton Dean. “This project will provide considerable support to Montgomery County schools, dollars the school systems otherwise would not receive. This is a major economic development project for the rural part of our county and will bring in a strong corporate partner in Lightsource BP.”
“The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce commends AMEA on this groundbreaking endeavor,” said Willie Durham, 2019 Chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. “Innovative collaborations among public and private sector partners like this in Montgomery will power business and economic prosperity in the region for years to come.”
With this announcement, Lightsource BP highlights its commitment to structuring creative, highly-customized solar energy solutions for its municipal and cooperative utility partners. In addition to this project in Alabama, Lightsource BP has executed solar power purchase agreements with other public agencies across the U.S., including the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Continental Divide Electric Cooperative, Mid-Kansas Electric Company, and Pennsylvania State University.
“AMEA and Montgomery County have been excellent partners for Lightsource BP, and we look forward to our continued collaboration as we bring this exciting project online in the coming years,” said Kevin Smith, Chief Executive Officer (Americas) of Lightsource BP. “Alabama offers tremendous potential for large-scale solar, and our efforts here underscore the exciting opportunity to develop clean, low-cost, and low-impact renewable energy in the region. We applaud AMEA for taking the lead in delivering the many benefits of solar energy to its customers.”
While the facility will be AMEA’s largest solar project to date, it is not the organization’s first. The electric authority is currently in the process of installing 50 kW solar research projects in each of its Member communities and has completed eight so far. AMEA has been studying solar energy since 2016 when it completed its initial 50 kW solar research facility immediately adjacent to its headquarters.
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About AMEA
The Alabama Municipal Electric Authority is a publicly-owned, not-for-profit electric utility that provides low-cost, reliable power to its 11 Member municipal utilities across Alabama. Established in 1981, AMEA is a coalition of municipal electric utilities that provide power to the cities of Alexander City, Dothan, Fairhope, Foley, LaFayette, Lanett, Luverne, Opelika, Piedmont, Sylacauga, and Tuskegee. AMEA’s mission is to provide its Member communities with a reliable and economical source of electric power, enabling them to preserve and enhance the benefits of municipal utility ownership for their citizens and the electric customers they serve. For more information, visit www.amea.com.
About Lightsource BP
Lightsource BP is an independent, global leader in the development, construction, and long-term management of utility-scale solar projects. Established in 2010, Lightsource BP has quickly become one of the largest solar developers in the world with over 2 GW of solar power plants under management. Through its integrated development platform, structured finance capabilities, in-house engineering team, and dedicated O&M division, Lightsource BP plays a pivotal role in driving the future global energy mix. The company boasts some of the leading talent in the industry, with a team of over 300 specialists in 16 offices across four continents. For more information, visit www.lightsourcebp.com.
