In its April energy infrastructure report, the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) says the nation's total installed capacity of solar power has reached 5.14 GW, which represents 0.44% of a total capacity of 1,162.26 GW. In April, the U.S. added 33 MW of installed capacity with nine new infrastructure-scale units.
From January through April of this year, 56 solar units generating a total of 845 MW have become operational. This compares with 94 units generating a combined 348 MW coming online in the same period of last year.
Major solar installations cited in the FERC report as becoming operational in April are as follows:
� Arizona Public Service Co.'s 17 MW Foothills Solar Power Plant in Yuma, Ariz. A second phase with 18 MW is expected to be operational by year end.
� SolarVision LLC's 5 MW Celina Solar Project I in Mercer County, Ohio. This solar project is expected to produce enough power to meet about 8% Celina's total energy demand.
� Light Beam Energy Inc.'s 1.7 MW Gridley Main One Solar and 2.5 MW Gridley Main Two Solar in Butte County, Calif. The power generated by each solar facility is sold to Gridley and the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit, respectively, under long-term contracts.
� Warsaw Solar 2 LLC's 2 MW Warsaw Solar 2 in Duplin County, N.C. The power generated is sold to Progress Energy Carolinas under a long-term contract.
� Hannon Strong Solar LLC's 1.4 MW Fort Bliss Solar in El Paso County, Texas. The power generated is sold to the U.S. Army Fort Bliss under a long-term contract.
