CUMMING, GA – Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation (Sawnee) announced today that its Board of Directors recently approved for the Corporation to participate in five (5) new utility scale solar projects, totaling 447 Megawatts (MW). Sawnee will receive ~60 MW of this capacity.
These solar projects are being developed in south and east Georgia on behalf of Green Power EMC, a not-for-profit cooperative founded in 2001 by Georgia’s electric cooperatives, including Sawnee EMC. Green Power’s main focus is to solicit, screen and procure clean, renewable power projects for participating EMC members.
Sawnee EMC will not have an investment or ownership interest in any of these solar projects; the cooperative has simply agreed to purchase a portion of the solar energy generated at these five (5) locations at a fixed price for 25 years. The facilities will be owned, operated and maintained by a division of Silicon Ranch, one of the nation’s largest independent solar power producers.
“These actions demonstrate our ongoing commitment to having a competitively priced, environmentally responsible, and diversified generation portfolio which meets the ever-changing needs for our growing membership,” states Michael A. Goodroe, Sawnee EMC’s President and CEO.
Of the 447 MW these projects represent, Sawnee will receive 60 MW, or just over 13% of the total energy output of these sites. The five (5) projects are scheduled to start construction in 2025 and will come online, in stages, beginning in the 4th Quarter 2026 through the 4th Quarter of 2027.
“These solar projects will be another in a series of very attractive renewable projects, economically priced and sustainable; that benefit both for our members and our state,” states Blake House, Sawnee’s Vice President of Member Services.
Sawnee EMC has previously participated in fifteen (15) other renewable generation projects that included landfill gas, biomass, and numerous utility scale solar projects. With the addition of these five (5) new solar projects, Sawnee EMC’s portfolio of renewable generation assets will grow to approximately 184 MW; enough to power over 30,000 homes.
As is the case with all renewable projects, Sawnee EMC chooses to participate strategically, over time, and only when it makes long term business sense for its members.
For more information about this please contact Blake House, Vice President of Member Services, at blake.house@sawnee.coop or by calling (678) 455-1510.
About Sawnee EMC
Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Cumming, Georgia. Sawnee serves electricity to approximately 200,000 accounts in seven (7) counties of greater north Georgia. Sawnee’s total assets exceed $881 million, with energy sales of 3.7 billion kWh and annual revenue of approximately $441 million. With a team of approximately 360 dedicated professionals and over 12,006 miles of distribution line, Sawnee stands ready at all times to meet the needs of its members/owners. SEMC strives daily to live up to their motto…
“At Sawnee EMC, We’re More Than Electricity, We’re Service”.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer
About Green Power EMC
Green Power EMC is a not-for-profit cooperative founded in 2001 to support EMCs in their search for Georgia’s renewable resources. The primary efforts of Green Power EMC have been to find, screen, analyze and negotiate power purchase agreements with Georgia-based renewable resource providers. In addition to sourcing renewable energy, Green Power EMC provides education programs that help member-consumers learn both the challenges and opportunities of utilizing renewable energy.