The U.S. Dept. of Energy announced it will guarantee a $967 million loan to support the Agua Caliente Solar Program sponsored by NRG Solar LCC. NECA member Conti Electric is the electrical contractor working with NRG to make the program a reality.
NRG Solar LLC estimates the photovoltaic generation facility will fund approximately 400 construction jobs and 10 full time operating jobs, and will be one of the largest plants of its kind in the world when completed. IBEW Local 570 reported that over 200 people will be employed on Agua Caliente.
From the DOE’s press release about the loan guarantee:
“The Agua Caliente Solar project will deploy fault ride-through and dynamic voltage regulation, innovative technologies that are new to photovoltaic solar power plants in the United States. These technologies will improve the reliability and predictability of the electricity supplied to the electricity grid. Pacific Gas & Electric Company will purchase power generated from the project and will deliver clean, renewable electricity to California consumers.“
Congratulations to Conti Electric! We look forward to hearing more about the Agua Caliente project as work progresses!
>> Read more about the Yuma, AZ solar project on First Solar website
August 15th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
My only concern is WHY is the project on “farmland” rather than on some of the millions of acres of desert in Arizona?
August 16th, 2011 at 10:56 am
Thats a great question, David — Not sure why, I do know that First Solar is working with the local county, offering jobs and opportunities to voice opinions. I believe it was a Yuma county govt. that determined the final location of the project.
September 23rd, 2011 at 3:48 am
Its on farmland and not national parks land (the desert) because the feds have a program that allows potential clean energy companies to apply for use of national land free of charge as long as they build solar, wind(clean) projects. All they have to do is submit for permits. BUT…the fossil fuel industry ran ahead of them and filed for permits on all the most promising tracks of land and then just sat on the permits. This was done of course to block renewable energy corporations from gaining any real foothold against them in the market.