Southern Company deploying solar in Nevada and New Mexico (but not Georgia)

Southern Company (SO) is deploying solar power in two southwestern states. Meanwhile, in Georgia, the 1973 Territoriality Act continues to impede others deploying solar while SO and Georgia Power waste our money on a nuclear boondoggle.

PR from Southern Company and Turner Renewable Energy, 29 June 2012, Southern Company and Ted Turner Acquire Second Solar Photovoltaic Power Project

Southern Company (NYSE: SO) Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning and Turner Renewable Energy founder Ted Turner today announced that the companies have acquired and will bring on line a 20 megawatt solar photovoltaic power plant in Nevada.

The Nevada plant is the Apex Solar Project, and earlier they did the Cimarron Solar Facility in New Mexico.

"Southern Company is proud to play a leadership role in renewable generation as we deliver clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy to our customers," said Fanning. "Our all-arrows-in-the-quiver approach calls for 21st century coal, nuclear, natural gas, renewables and energy efficiency in a diverse fuel mix necessary to meeting growing consumer demand and furthering America's energy independence."

Maybe it's just an oversight that SO CEO Fanning listed coal first

and solar and wind not at all. Or maybe not, since that fits with Fanning's policy paper.

A few big power projects far away is also a few-eggs-in-the-same-electric-grid-basket approach, which is how we have millions without power right now due to no smart grid. If SO wants to build or acquire big plants, Austin Energy has demonstrated that's possible right out side Austin, where AE's 30 MW plant is bigger than SO's 20 MW Nevada plant. And Austin gets about the same amount of sun as south Georgia.

SO and Georgia Power could do better for us in Georgia than they're doing.

-jsq