Southern Co. Unit Buys First Solar Project In Texas - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Southern Power, a subsidiary of electric utility holding company Southern Co. (SO), said it has acquired a controlling interest in the 157-megawatt or MW Roserock solar facility from Recurrent Energy, a subsidiary of Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ). This is Southern Power's first solar project in Texas and enables the company to expand its solar footprint.

The facility is being developed by Recurrent Energy, which will retain the remaining interest in the project. Representing Southern Power and Recurrent Energy's second partnership arrangement, the project, currently under construction, is expected to enter commercial operation in the fourth quarter of 2016.

The electricity and associated renewable energy credits generated by the facility will be sold under a 20-year power purchase agreement with Austin Energy. Once completed, the project is expected to generate enough solar energy to power the average energy needs of about 30,000 Texas homes.

Located on 1,300 acres of land in Pecos County, Texas, the facility will consist of about 700,000 Canadian Solar CS6X-P photovoltaic solar modules, mounted on single axis tracker.