Appalachian Power issues RFP for solar energy, battery storage
Appalachian Power issued a request for proposal (RFP) this week for solar energy resources with a battery-energy storage system.
The RFP is for up to 150 megawatts (MW) of solar energy. The company seeks to acquire the solar facilities through one or more purchase and sale agreements from developers who meet certain criteria.
Appalachian Power produces nearly 2,000 gigawatt-hours of energy annually from wind, solar, and hydropower.
“The RFP issued today is our company’s second request for bids following the West Virginia legislation,” Chris Beam, Appalachian Power president and chief operating officer, said. “Our first request resulted in a signed contract for a 50 MW solar project in Berkeley County, and we are ready and eager to build on that success.”
Bids must be at least 50 MW in size, located in West Virginia, and interconnected to PJM, the independent regional transmission organization that manages the electric grid in 13 states, including West Virginia. Also, projects must qualify for the Federal Investment Tax Credit and be operational by Dec. 15, 2025.
The RFP aligns with West Virginia Senate Bill 583, which passed in 2020 to further the development of renewable energy resources and renewable energy facilities for solar energy.
Appalachian Power officials said preference will be given to submissions located on eligible sites as defined by the legislation. These sites include property previously used in electric generation, industrial, manufacturing, or mining operations, including brownfields, closed landfills, hazardous waste sites, and former industrial or mining sites.
Businesses looking to submit a proposal can find all the pertinent information on the Appalachian Power website. Proposals must be submitted by March 31, 2022.
Appalachian Power serves 1 million customers in Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee. It is a subsidiary of American Electric Power, which provides power to 5.5 million customers in 11 states.
