NAVAL STATION KINGS BAY, Ga. – The Department of the Defense announced the Navy has signed a deal with Georgia Power to develop a large-scale, solar generation farm at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay.
The 42 megawatt direct current facility will be constructed on 258 acres of land at the base St. Marys, Ga.
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The ground-mounted solar photovoltaic panels are scheduled to have a nameplate capacity of 42 megawatt DC or 30 MW of alternating current. The power generated by the solar farm will be routed to Georgia Power's transmission lines, to benefit their customers.
"We are very proud to work with incorporating renewable energy to this part of southeastern Georgia," said Captain James Jenks, Kings Bay's commanding officer. "This project will contribute to the Navy's energy portfolio and will also reduce demand for fossil fuel."
The new project will help to diversify Georgia Power's portfolio by adding a new source of generation that will also create local economic development associated with the construction and long-term maintenance of the facility. The solar project at Kings Bay is estimated to represent a $75 million investment at the installation.
Georgia Power expects to break ground on the project late summer with the facility coming online by the end of 2016.
Kings Bay became a Naval base in 1978, previously operating as an Army facility. It encompasses approximately 17,000 acres of land, and its principal function is to manage and maintain Ohio-class submarines and ballistic missiles.