Alabama Power today issued a request for proposals (RFP) for renewable energy resources.

The RFP process allows Alabama Power the opportunity to review market offerings of renewable energy resources and determine whether there are viable projects that the company may choose to pursue.

“Alabama Power supports renewable energy, where it makes sense for our customers,” said John Kelley, the company’s director of forecasting and resource planning. “Renewable markets change a lot, and this proposal gives us a chance to see what may be out there in the 2017 and 2018 time frame.”

For a proposal to be considered under the new RFP, it must be either a renewable resource or an environmentally specialized generating resource. Eligible projects include solar, wind, geothermal, tidal or ocean current, low-impact hydro and biomass, among others.

Projects involving gas derived from sewage treatment processes, solid municipal waste or landfills, and combined heat and power projects would also be eligible for consideration. The company is requesting “turnkey” proposals for facilities that the company would own, as well as energy purchase contracts with terms of 10 or 25 years.

Alabama Power was founded on renewable hydro energy; it began operating its first hydroelectric facility on the Coosa River in 1914, and hydro remains an important part of the company’s generating mix.

Over the past several decades, Alabama Power has researched a range of renewable-related energy options, from solar and wind to biomass. In recent years, the company has become a leader in the Southeast in bringing in purchased power from wind farms in the Midwest.

The company also has solar projects under construction at two Army facilities in Alabama, and recently signed an agreement for a third party to develop a large solar facility in Chambers County in east Alabama. Under a long-term contract with Alabama Power, Walmart will subscribe to a majority of the Chambers County facility’s environmental attributes, also known as renewable energy credits (RECs). Those RECs will be retired on Walmart’s behalf to help that company meet its renewable energy goals. Alabama Power is marketing the remaining RECs to other customers who have an interest in renewable energy.

In all its renewable projects, Alabama Power retains the ability to use the energy and the associated RECs for its customers, or sell that energy and the credits – together or separately – for the benefit of customers.

Participation in the just-released renewable RFP requires a separate bidder’s fee for each proposal to help defray evaluation costs. All proposals must meet the criteria of the Green-e® Energy National Standard for Renewable Electricity Products, Gold Standard, the Climate Registry, or similar certification approved by the company.

Notice of intent to bid must be received by 6 p.m. CDT on Oct. 14, 2016. Completed bids must be received by 6 p.m. CST on Nov. 15, 2016.

For details about the renewable energy RFP, please visit http://www.alabamapower.com/environment/renewable-energy/rfp.asp.