In a ceremony held at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia Power announced plans to build a new 139 megawatt (MW) solar facility adjacent to Robins Air Force Base (AFB). The project was approved earlier that day by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC). This site will become the largest solar project constructed by Georgia Power to date.
The new solar facility will be located on approximately 870 acres of land reserved to prevent encroachment to the north of the runway at Robins AFB. The solar project at Robins AFB is estimated to represent a more than $200 million investment and will help to enable the base to meet critical energy security and energy resiliency goals. According to William Houser, the senior project manager for Georgia Power, “I venture to say Robins will be the most resilient (military base) in the nation.”
In addition, the development of a new solar energy facility will help reduce the amount of energy required from burning fossil fuels, leading to an overall improvement in air quality throughout the region and the state. “We’re adding fuel diversity to the mix in Georgia and we’re proud of this,” Houser said. This project is the result of a long-term partnership between Houston County, Macon-Bibb County, and Peach County, supported by the Central Georgia Joint Development Authority and Middle Georgia Clean Air Coalition.
