First Solar ready to move on new plant with maximum capacity of 290 megawatts/ 72,500 homes

[one...two...tree 2,762]

by Ryan Randazzo -

The Arizona Republic

Tempe-based First Solar Inc. plans to break ground this summer near Yuma on its first big Arizona power plant following California regulators' approval this week to sell the power to Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

The Agua Caliente Solar project was put together by NextLight Renewable Power LLC of San Francisco, which First Solar said in April it would buy for $285 million.

But First Solar didn't want NextLight unless the California Public Utilities Commission approved selling power from the Agua Caliente plant to PG&E, which serves much of the state north of Los Angeles.

That approval came Thursday, clearing the way for the acquisition and Agua Caliente's construction.

The plant is planned for a site 65 miles east of Yuma near Dateland and Hyder on about 2,400 acres currently being farmed.

The Yuma County Board of Supervisors and Arizona Corporation Commission have already given the plant the necessary permits.

The plant could begin transmitting power to PG&E under its 25-year purchase agreement by 2012, according to NextLight.

It will have a maximum capacity of 290 megawatts, enough for 72,500 homes while the sun is shining.

"Of course, we are very pleased they decided to approve the amended (power-purchase agreement)," First Solar spokesman Alan Bernheimer said Friday.

The CPUC decision has a 30-day appeal timeline, he said, after which First Solar intends to move quickly on the power plant.

"This is the first (project) for First Solar of real size in Arizona," Bernheimer said.

First Solar has offices in Tempe, while it makes solar panels in Ohio, Germany and Malaysia.

Most of the panels go to large power plants in Germany and Spain, but the company is pushing for more business in the United States.

It has built some smaller plants in Nevada and California and is working on several others with an output in the range of hundreds of megawatts, but Agua Caliente would be the first of that size in the Southwest to get built.

With the NextLight acquisition, First Solar will have power plants with a potential output of 2.2 gigawatts in its development pipeline.

First Solar produced more solar panels than any company in the world last year and did it for the lowest cost.

But a drawback for the company is that its panels are not as efficient at creating electricity as other technologies, so they require more area than more expensive panels.

http://www.azcentral...-new-plant.html

[Ban Hammer 13,400]

good news for arizona.

[evli1966 88]

by Ryan Randazzo -

The Arizona Republic

Tempe-based First Solar Inc. plans to break ground this summer near Yuma on its first big Arizona power plant following California regulators' approval this week to sell the power to Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

The Agua Caliente Solar project was put together by NextLight Renewable Power LLC of San Francisco, which First Solar said in April it would buy for $285 million.

But First Solar didn't want NextLight unless the California Public Utilities Commission approved selling power from the Agua Caliente plant to PG&E, which serves much of the state north of Los Angeles.

That approval came Thursday, clearing the way for the acquisition and Agua Caliente's construction.

The plant is planned for a site 65 miles east of Yuma near Dateland and Hyder on about 2,400 acres currently being farmed.

The Yuma County Board of Supervisors and Arizona Corporation Commission have already given the plant the necessary permits.

The plant could begin transmitting power to PG&E under its 25-year purchase agreement by 2012, according to NextLight.

It will have a maximum capacity of 290 megawatts, enough for 72,500 homes while the sun is shining.

"Of course, we are very pleased they decided to approve the amended (power-purchase agreement)," First Solar spokesman Alan Bernheimer said Friday.

The CPUC decision has a 30-day appeal timeline, he said, after which First Solar intends to move quickly on the power plant.

"This is the first (project) for First Solar of real size in Arizona," Bernheimer said.

First Solar has offices in Tempe, while it makes solar panels in Ohio, Germany and Malaysia.

Most of the panels go to large power plants in Germany and Spain, but the company is pushing for more business in the United States.

It has built some smaller plants in Nevada and California and is working on several others with an output in the range of hundreds of megawatts, but Agua Caliente would be the first of that size in the Southwest to get built.

With the NextLight acquisition, First Solar will have power plants with a potential output of 2.2 gigawatts in its development pipeline.

First Solar produced more solar panels than any company in the world last year and did it for the lowest cost.

But a drawback for the company is that its panels are not as efficient at creating electricity as other technologies, so they require more area than more expensive panels.

http://www.azcentral...-new-plant.html

I like this - this is moving in the right direction for alternative power.

OT - So I wonder how these permits from AZ to Cali corps will affect the supposed Cali Boycott of AZ?

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

woot! celebrate energy diversity!!