GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
Commissioners Celebrate Groundbreaking of Solar Facility at Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia

Commissioners Lauren "Bubba" McDonald and Doug Everett joined community leaders, elected officials, Department of the Navy (DON) officials, and Georgia Power representatives at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new solar facility at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia. In his remarks Commissioner McDonald of Clarkesville noted that, "This project will provide security and resiliency for the power grid here at the Marine Corps Logistics Base and in the greater community. Projects like these will ensure that Georgia military bases will survive any future recommendations for base closures." Commissioner McDonald is Vice-Chairman of the Commission.

Commissioner Everett of Albany, said, "This solar facility is the result of the continuing partnership between the Georgia Public Service Commission, Georgia Power and the Department of the Navy to develop solar energy in Georgia while keeping rates low."

Also taking part in today's (4/28) ceremony was the Honorable Dennis V McGinn, Assistance Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment; Lieutenant General Gerald Michael G. Dana, Deputy Commandant Installation and Logistics for the Marine Corps; the commander of the Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany Colonel James C Carroll III; and Kenneth C. Coleman Georgia Power Senior Vice President of Marketing.

The Department of the Navy and Georgia Power are developing a solar facility on the Marine Corps Logistics Base that will span about 150 acres and produce up to 44 megawatts (MW) of direct current (DC) or 30 MW of alternating current (AC) capacity. The facility's anticipated completion date is 2017. This project is the fifth that has broken ground on Georgia military bases in the past year with a total capacity of 166 MW. The other projects are at Fort Benning in Columbus, Fort Stewart in Hinesville, Fort Gordon in Augusta, and the Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay Georgia.

For more information on Commissioner McDonald go to his page on the Commission website at: http://www.psc.state.ga.us/content.aspx?c=/commissioners/lauren-mcdonald-jr/?tab=2.

Commissioner Everett's complete bio is found at: http://www.psc.state.ga.us/content.aspx?c=/commissioners/doug-everett/?tab=2

The Georgia Public Service Commission is a five-member constitutional agency that exercises its authority and influence to ensure that consumers receive safe, reliable, and reasonably-priced telecommunications, electric and natural gas service from financially viable and technically competent companies. For more information on the Commission visit our web site at www.psc.state.ga.us.

Georgia Public Service Commissioners Doug Everett (far left) and Lauren "Bubba" McDonald (far right) join Georgia Power, Navy, and Marine Corps leaders in turning the first dirt on the Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany solar facility