Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) has unveiled plans for a five-year program to develop up to 500 MW of solar photovoltaic power in its northern and central California service area. This project is one of the largest undertakings of its kind in the country, says PG&E.
The proposed program consists of up to 250 MW of utility-owned PV generation, PG&E's first direct investment in renewable generation in over a decade, and an additional 250 MW to be built and owned by independent developers under a streamlined regulatory process. PG&E has submitted its plan to the California Public Utilities Commission for approval, which could come later this year.
If all projects are up and running by 2015, they are expected to deliver more than 1,000 GWh of power each year. PG&E's solar program targets mid-sized projects, typically 1 MW to 20 MW, mounted on the ground or rooftops. Where feasible, projects developed and owned by PG&E would be built on land already owned by the utility or near its substations to minimize the cost and delays of interconnecting them to the power grid.
SOURCE: PG&EÂ Â Â Â Â Â
