A solar energy array in Upson County is up and running. The West Georgia plant is the first in a series of solar projects for Georgia Power.

The one megawatt facility will make enough electricity to power 300 homes. It’s the first of four projects being built by two private companies contracted to sell electricity to Georgia Power. They should be completed by 2015 and produce a total of 50 megawatts.

These facilities will more than double the amount of solar power currently generated here. Georgia Power’s Lynn Wallace says solar facilities are faster to build.

“Its years, you know eight to 10 years or more sometimes to build a traditional type of plant. But a solar project, I mean, you can see a solar project built and come online, you know, within a year.”

The Georgia Public Service Commission approved the solar plan in 2010. The other plants are planned for Meriwether and Mitchell County and in the City of Social Circle.

Tags: Georgia, Georgia Power, Georgia Public Service Commission, GPB, Josephine Bennett, solar electricity