OGE solicits bids for its largest solar-power effort

OGE announces plan to double size of Choctaw Nation Solar Farm

 

Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company is making a bigger push toward solar energy production, recently announcing its efforts to add up to 450 megawatts in the next three years.

The company said it issued a Request for Proposals for nameplate solar energy resources to aid the utility in meeting the future generation needs of its customers. OG&E said the utility-scale resources will further diversify its energy generation portfolio, increasing renewable energy supply to all customers.

“This RFP represents OG&E’s largest solar investment and will add more renewables into the generation mix that powers our customers’ homes and businesses with reliable, affordable electricity customers expect,” said Utility Operations Vice President Donnie Jones. “As the first utility in Oklahoma to offer a universal solar power program, OG&E is proud to continue adding cleaner energy sources for apartments, homes, and businesses throughout our service area.”

The RFP solicits bids for the purchase of solar energy resources with a minimum capacity of 50 MW and maximum of 450 MW nameplate solar with a preference for annual capacity increments of no more than 150 MW through 2025. The location(s) must be within the Southwest Power Pool, with preference given to locations within OG&E’s service territory in Oklahoma or Arkansas.

In 2015, OG&E became the first utility in Oklahoma to offer a universal solar energy program to customers with the construction of its first solar installation at Mustang Energy Center located in Mustang, Okla. Universal solar provides customers the opportunity to add solar energy to their personal energy portfolios without paying for expensive rooftop solar panels.

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Since 2015, the company has completed three additional developments for a total solar energy capacity of 22.5 MWs, which is enough to power nearly 3,700 homes. The additional development related to this RFP will again significantly increase the utility’s solar generation capacity and will provide solar energy for all customers.

OG&E is accepting bids from qualified outside parties to supply utility-scale solar photovoltaic (“PV”) Generation Facility(ies), as standalone PV assets or in paired PV and energy storage systems (“Hybrid Projects”) to OG&E. Bids must be for an individual solar-only project, or a co-located Hybrid Project.

Proposals are due March 3, 2022. Additional information regarding the RFP and contract information is available at OGE.com. Proposals selected from the RFP are subject to appropriate regulatory approvals.

Source: OGE