FacebookTwitterLinkedInEmailPrint分享Renewables Now:Power and water utility Santee Cooper and Central Electric Power Cooperative Inc, a wholesale electric services provider, have initiated a bidding process with the goal of procuring up to 500 MW of new solar capacity that is to be installed across the U.S. state of South Carolina.The partners are seeking to award purchase agreements for electricity generated by several utility-scale solar projects ranging from 25 MW to 125 MW of installed capacity.Santee Cooper said it has already sent a request for proposals (RFP) to close to 30 solar developers. The developers will own their projects and Santee Cooper and Central will purchase the plants’ output. Central may become a counterparty to one or more purchase agreements through this process.The two companies will jointly review the bids, which are due by July 30, and start awarding the contracts in late 2020.Santee Cooper plans to add up to 1,000 MW of new solar to the mix by 2024 and an additional 500 MW by 2031. All of the planned electricity will be purchased from third-party providers and will in part replace some existing coal-based power, the company said.[Sladjana Djunisic]More: Santee Cooper, Central seek RFP for up to 500 MW of new S. Carolina solar South Carolina utilities seeking bids for 500MW of new solar generation capacity read more