Georgia Power backs third-party solar leasing bill

摘要

A new, compromise bill filed at the Georgia GeneralrnAssembly on Wednesday allows third-party leasingrnon residential and business solar projects but limits to utilities andrnelectric cooperatives the right to sell power to retail customers.rnThe measure, formally known as the Solar Power Free-MarketrnFinancing Act of 2015, is the result of extensive discussions overrnthe past several months involving bill sponsor RepresentativernMike Dudgeon, Georgia Power, the state’s co-ops, solar advocatesrnand others.rnGeorgia Power supports Dudgeon’s bill, which addressesrnconcerns that the utility had regarding previous proposals to allowrnthird-party solar leasing, said Georgia Power spokesman JohnrnKraft. Among other things, the new bill makes clear that a thirdpartyrnleasing agreement is a financial arrangement and does not involve the sale of electricity to a retail customer, Kraft said.