Sempra expands Nevada solar farm
Sempra Generation, the clean energy subsidiary of San Diego-based Sempra Generation, said yesterday that it will add a 48- megawatt expansion to its Copper Mountain solar power facility, which is located in Boulder City, Nev., 40 miles (64 kilometers) southeast of Las Vegas.
Once fully operational in 2010 the thin-film solar power station will generate 58 megawatts of solar power. The expansion adds on to the 10 megawatts that are being installed now and which are set to begin operating in December. First Solar of Tempe, Ariz.will build the photovoltaic facility.
The facility is located near a Sempra-owned gas-fired power plant. That will allow Sempra to directly connect its solar farm to the electricity grid.
Sempra Generation chief executive officer Michael Allman told Green Wombat that Wednesday’s deal is part of a strategy to bring 500 megawatts of solar electricity online. State mandates require California utilities to generate 20% of the electricity from clean energy sources by 2010.
The 48-megawatt deal is contingent on Sempra singning a long-term power purchase agreement with a utility.
