Gov. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev.; Boulder City Mayor Roger Tobler; Neal Schmale, president and COO of Sempra Energy; and others have officially dedicated Sempra Energy's new El Dorado Energy Solar facility.
This project is the largest thin-film solar power facility in North America, Sempra Energy says. The 10 MW plant is located adjacent to the company's existing 480 MW El Dorado Energy natural-gas-fired power plant near Boulder City, Nev., about 40 miles southeast of Las Vegas.
The El Dorado Energy Solar project is Sempra Energy's first solar power-generation project. Construction began in July 2008 and was completed in December 2008. The plant's entire output has been contracted under a 20-year power purchase agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric. The contract is subject to approval by the California Public Utilities Commission.
First Solar Inc. manufactured the solar modules, was the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the project and is charged with monitoring and maintaining the plant.
SOURCE: Sempra Energy
