First Solar Inc. has signed two major agreements in California for a total of 605 MW.
Under the first agreement, First Solar and Southern California Edison (SCE) will build large-scale solar power projects in Riverside and San Bernardino counties in Southern California. The installations will have a generation capacity of 550 MW of photovoltaic solar electricity – enough to provide power to approximately 170,000 homes. The agreements are subject to approval by the California Public Utilities Commission.
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First Solar will engineer, procure and construct the two solar facilities. The 250 MW Desert Sunlight project will be located near Desert Center, Calif., and the 300 MW Stateline project will be located in northeastern San Bernardino County. Pending network upgrades and receipt of applicable governmental permits, construction is scheduled to begin in 2012 for Desert Sunlight and 2013 for Stateline.
Both SCE projects are expected to be completed in 2015. Several hundred construction jobs are expected to be created at each site. When completed, these solar projects will produce 1.2 billion kWh of clean energy per year, First Solar says.
Additionally, First Solar plans to build a large-scale solar power project in Imperial County, Calif., with the Los Angeles Department of Water And Power (LADWP). This installation will have a generation capacity of 55 MW.
First Solar will design, engineer and construct the 55 MW Niland project using its thin-film solar modules. Construction is expected to begin next year and be completed in 2011. The contract is conditioned on approval by the Los Angeles City Council and the mayor of Los Angeles. The solar arrays will require building permits from Imperial County.
SOURCE: First Solar
