Major Expansion of Renewable Energy Capacity
Southern Power, a leading U.S. wholesale energy provider and subsidiary of Southern Company, has announced the expansion of its Millers Branch Solar Facility in Haskell County, Texas. The Phase II expansion will add 180 megawatts (MW) to the current Phase I 200 MW facility, with potential growth up to approximately 500 MW.
“We are thrilled to announce the expansion of our Millers Branch Solar Facility,” stated Southern Power President Robin Boren. “This 180 MW renewable energy expansion represents a clean, innovative solution to help a diverse group of customers achieve meaningful progress on their own sustainability objectives. It’s one more example of how Southern Power is building the future of energy and meeting the evolving needs of our customers and communities.”
Enhancing Renewable Energy Portfolio
The expansion underscores Southern Power’s commitment to increasing its renewable energy assets across the U.S. The company will lead the development and construction of both phases of the Millers Branch project. Phase II is expected to achieve commercial operation in the second quarter of 2026, contributing significantly to the solar energy market.
Several companies, including Cisco, Juniper Networks, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., Cadence, Bio-Rad, PTC, and a large healthcare company, have signed power purchase agreements with Southern Power. These agreements, supported by the Sustainability Roundtable Inc. and the Net Zero Consortium for Buyers, cover all environmental attributes, such as renewable energy credits (RECs), produced by the 180 MW Phase II portion of the Millers Branch Solar Facility.
Southern Power’s Growing Renewable Fleet
With the addition of Millers Branch Phase II, Southern Power’s solar portfolio will include over 2,920 MW of solar generation either operating or under construction. Southern Power’s solar facilities are part of the company’s broader 5,450 MW renewable fleet, which includes 30 solar and 15 wind facilities currently operating or under development.
This expansion aligns with Southern Power’s strategy of strengthening its wholesale business by acquiring and developing generating assets covered by long-term contracts with strong credit support. This approach ensures stability and growth in the energy market trends, especially within solar energy investment and energy storage sectors.
About Southern Power
Southern Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company, is a prominent U.S. wholesale energy provider. It meets the electricity needs of municipalities, electric cooperatives, investor-owned utilities, and other energy customers. Southern Power and its subsidiaries, some partially owned by various partners, own or operate 55 facilities across 15 states. These facilities have more than 13,000 MW of generating capacity, covering states such as Alabama, California, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Maine, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Source：apnews.com
