The Alabama Municipal Electric Authority (AMEA), in partnership with the City of Opelika and Opelika Power Services (OPS), as well as the City of Tuskegee and the Utilities Board of Tuskegee (UBT), dedicated new 50-KW solar research projects in those cities on June 26 and 27.
The Opelika project is located at 400 Fox Run Parkway (in front of the OPS headquarters).The Tuskegee project is located at 48 Alabama Highway 199 (across from Moten Field). The projects were completed in May.
“We are proud of these two new solar research projects as part of our effort to enhance renewable energy in our portfolio,” said Fred Clark, AMEA President & CEO. “We want to thank Opelika and Tuskegee for their leadership and partnership in this endeavor.”
In conjunction with the solar research initiative, AMEA has been exploring and researching best practices in community solar parks in partnership with AMEA’s Member cities.
The AMEA Board of Directors approved a $1 million investment to construct one solar research project in each Member city for a total of 11 projects, Clark added. Similar-size projects have also been dedicated in Dothan and Luverne.
The Opelika Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Tuskegee Area Chamber of Commerce, conducted rib- bon cuttings during both days’ activities.
AMEA, located in Montgomery, is the wholesale power provider for 11 public power utilities in Alabama, which serve some 350,000 customers in Alexander City, Dothan, Fairhope, Foley (Riviera Utilities), LaFayette, Lanett, Luverne, Opelika, Piedmont, Sylacauga, and Tuskegee.