Southern Company and Ted Turner Acquire 30 MW Solar PV Power Project

March 15, 2010 – Vol.14 No.52

Southern Company and Ted Turner Acquire 30 MW Solar PV Power Project.

The project was acquired from and will be built by Tempe, Arizona-based First Solar, the world's largest manufacturer of thin film solar modules. The Southern Turner Cimarron I Solar Project project, the first to result from the partnership forged by Southern Company and Turner Renewable Energy in January, will supply power to approximately 9,000 homes. The 30 MW power plant will be adjacent to Turner's Vermejo Park Ranch in northern New Mexico.

"It is great that large-scale solar photovoltaic power generation is becoming a reality in the United States," said Turner. "Southern Turner Renewable Energy is excited to develop and own this project and we look forward to generating clean renewable energy in New Mexico."

Construction of the solar array will begin this month with completion and commercial operation expected by year end 2010. It will consist of approximately 500,000 2'x 4' photovoltaic modules constructed with First Solar's patented thin film semiconductor technology.

Electricity generated by the plant will serve a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, a not-for-profit wholesale power supplier to 44 electric cooperatives serving 1.4 million customers across Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming.

Turner Renewable Energy is wholly owned by Ted Turner.

Southern Company is leading U.S. producer of electricity. the company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. (3/11/10)

Links:

Southern Company
http://www.southerncompany.com

--- Southern Company and Ted Turner Partner to Explore Renewable Energy Projects.

Disclaimer, Forward-Looking or Safe Harbor Statement on original press release: No