Three solar facilities that provide renewable energy to Jackson EMC have been completed, according to Green Power EMC, the renewable energy provider for 38 electric cooperatives in Georgia. With the completion of the facilities, 200-megawatts of solar energy can entirely serve renewable energy to more than 35,000 homes in Georgia.

The plans for these three now completed projects were first announced in 2017 by partners Green Power EMC and Silicon Ranch, one of the nation’s largest independent solar power producers. Jackson EMC is one of 38 cooperative members that make up Green Power EMC.

The three solar sites in southwest Georgia were developed, funded and built by Silicon Ranch, which also owns, operates and maintains the solar arrays in each facility. Green Power EMC is purchasing all the energy and environmental attributes generated by the facilities on behalf of its member EMCs for the next 30 years.

The first site, known as Hazlehurst III, opened in December 2019 and is a 40-megawatt facility located in Jeff Davis County. In August 2020, Silicon Ranch commissioned the second site, the 74-megawatt Terrell Solar Farm, in Terrell County. In December 2020, the partners commissioned the third and final site in the portfolio, Snipesville I, an 86-megawatt facility also located in Jeff Davis County. Jackson EMC receives renewable energy from each of the facilities.

Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan said that the commissioning of this solar portfolio demonstrates the continued dedication of Georgia’s electric cooperatives in being leaders in renewable energy, while making a positive difference in the communities they serve.

“EMCs maintain a balanced and diverse portfolio to meet the energy needs of Georgia’s consumers – and that includes innovative sources like solar,” Duncan said. “They’ve harnessed Georgia’s natural resources to power our homes, drive economic development, and provide hundreds of jobs in construction and installation.”

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, the largest electric cooperative in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation, is headquartered 50 miles northeast of Atlanta in Jefferson, Ga. The cooperative serves more than 240,000 meters on 14,000 miles of energized wire. For more information, visit jacksonemc.com.