Former presidential candidate Abramowitz eyeing Energy Ministry
By NIV ELISSolar panels(photo credit: INGIMAGE)
The US affiliate of Israeli solar company Energiya won a $30 million contract to build a 17.68 MW solar field in southeast Georgia. It will be the first utility level solar field in that part of the state.The 79-acre field will be constructed in Glynn County, Georgia and is expected to be interconnected by the last day of 2015. The power purchase agreement with the Georgia Power company promised 20 years of power.“Georgia Power is pleased to work with Energiya Global, and its US affiliate, Energiya USA, as part of the Advanced Solar Initiative,” said Norrie McKenzie, Vice President of Renewable Development, at Georgia Power Company.“With a shared commitment to innovative, clean energy solutions, our customers will benefit from this partnership today and in the future.”Georgia Governor Nathan Deal visited Israel in June with a delegation focused on economic cooperation.“This is the 20th year that Georgia has had a trade relationship with Israel, which has been proven to be successful for both sides,” Deal said at the time.According to Energiya USA CEO David M. Herskovits, the project is the first of a dozen the company plans to launch in the southeast US. Energiya made headlines this year by securing financing for building a utility-level solar field in Rwanda, the first such project in east Africa.The deal comes just days after global powers agreed to a format for coordinating climate change action in Lima, Peru.“In the wake of the global climate talks in Lima, the time has arrived for the United States to demonstrate leadership when it comes to renewable energy, and we are proud, as an Israeli company, to help America achieve its potential,” said Jerusalem- based Energiya Global Capital CEO Yosef Abramowitz, sometimes referred to as “Captain Sunshine.”Abramowitz, who ran for president, said he had been approached by political parties to run for Knesset in the upcoming elections.
“I am honored that there is interest in my running for Knesset, but right now I am more interested in seeing that every political party sign on to a pledge of 20 percent renewables for Israel by 2020,” he told The Jerusalem Post, before adding, “unless it’s a really good offer that could lead to becoming the next energy minister.”
