Green Energy Reporter

First Solar has sold its 21-megawatt solar energy project now under construction in Blythe, Calif., 200 miles (321 kilometers) east of Los Angeles to NRG Energy.

Construction on Blythe, California’s largest utility-scale PV power plant, began in September and is expected to end at year-end. Once operational, the plant will sell its electricity output to Southern California Edison under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

The two companies did not disclose the acquisition price.

The Blythe deal is NRG ‘s second clean energy acquisition this month. A couple of weeks ago, the New Jersey-based power company acquired offshore wind developer Bluewater Wind from bankrupt Babcock & Brown and Arcadia Windpower.

NRG, one of the largest consumers of coal, has been actively greening its generation portfolio over the past year.  As part of this strategy, last winter it invested $10 million in eSolar for the right to use the startup’s technology to develop and operate three utility-scale solar power projects in the western U.S.

The Blythe project will continue to generate revenues for First Solar, which, under the terms of the deal, will provide NRG operation and maintenance services. Details on that long-term agreement were also not disclosed.

We’ve got calls and emails out to First Solar and NRG and will post as soon as we get more details.