POWERGRAMS

37 Walmart has a sunny disposition about meeting its renewable energy goals, thanks to Alabama Power and one of the state's largest solar energy facilities, near LaFayette. It all starts with the new Alabama Solar A project - 338,000 solar panels producing 72 megawatts of electricity, enough to energize about 18,000 homes. Alabama Power has a long-term contract with primary owner Centaurus Renewable Energy of Houston to buy Renewable Energy Certificates from the facility; RECs that Alabama Power resells to Walmart. "Sourcing renewable energy from the AL Solar A project plays a crucially important role in providing power for Walmart facilities throughout Alabama," said Steve Chriss, Walmart's director of Energy and Strategy Analysis. "The energy procured from AL Solar A will significantly contribute to Walmart's sustainability goals and serve as a benchmark for our ongoing renewable energy efforts." Alabama Solar A drew national attention in April as Parade magazine, in celebration of Earth Day, selected the facility as Alabama's top green initiative in a list of one project from each of the 50 states. Alabama Power is marketing the remaining energy and renewable energy attributes from the project to other customers interested in supporting new renewable generation in Alabama. "This project is great for Alabama Power customers because it puts downward pressure on rates," said John Kelley, Alabama Power's director of Forecasting and Resource Planning. "It also helps our partner, Walmart, meet its sustainability goals. And it supports the local economy in Chambers County. It's a win-win-win." Construction of the $140 million solar farm – built by San Diego's Swinerton Renewable Energy on 1,100 acres south of LaFayette – started in February 2017, creating more than 450 jobs during peak construction. The project came online late in 2017 and is operated by Idaho-based Clenera. Some 57,000 pilings were installed in 4,000 rows to complete the project. The Alabama's largest solar plant powers many Alabama Power's John Kelley, Chris Habig and Tony Smoke were joined by executives of Clenera and Swinerton, LaFayette community leaders and Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield at the ribbon-cutting.

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