U.S. pipeline operator Williams plans to add solar power at natural gas-processing plants and natural gas pipeline facilities in nine states, Kallanish Energy reports.
The move is made possible by generous federal and state tax credits, the Oklahoma-based company said.
The company plans to add mini-solar farms ranging in size from 1 megawatt to 40 megawatts at company-owned sites in nine states: Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
The facilities would produce about 350 megawatts of electricity with any excess power being sold back into the grid.
The new facilities would be adjacent to existing Williams’ facilities.
They are expected to begin electricity production in late 2021.
At present, Williams purchases about 400 megawatts of electricity from the grid at those locations, the company said.
Williams will form a new company to pursue the solar facilities.
The company said it views natural gas and solar electricity as complimentary technologies with financial and environmental benefits.
“Natural gas is key to our country’s ability to add more renewable energy to the power grid in large volumes – it is clean, affordable fuel that can quickly provide power when renewable energy sources are producing less due to the variability of sunlight and wind,” said Williams CEO Alan Armstrong in a statement.
Currently, natural gas has become the major source of power to produce electricity, not coal.
Williams has 30,000 miles of U.S. natural gas pipelines and it moves 30% of U.S. natural gas.
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