Solar developer 8minutenergy Renewables LLC has begun construction on the 137 MW DC (105 MW AC) Springbok 1 Solar Farm, located 70 miles north of Los Angeles in Kern County, Calif.
The project has a signed power purchase agreement with the Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA), on behalf of its participating member, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).
The utility-scale solar generation facility is sited on up to about 700 acres of abandoned farmland taken out of production more than 20 years ago.
Once it reaches commercial operations in June 2016, the Springbok 1 project is expected to displace the equivalent of approximately 300,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.
"Each step of this process we have enjoyed strong working relationships with SCPPA/LADWP and the Kern County Planning and Development Department, among other local and community organizations," says Tom Buttgenbach, president of 8minutenergy." Add to that the economic impact the project is having in the region, and we believe this project is a model for productive private and public partnership."
