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Sempra, ConEdison Partnering
On Solar Projects In NV, AZ

Sempra U.S. Gas & Power LLC and Consolidated Edison Development (ConEdison Development) have announced an agreement to partner in two of Sempra’s solar power facilities: the 150 MW Copper Mountain Solar plant near Las Vegas and the 150 MW Mesquite Solar power plant near Phoenix.

Under the agreement, each company will own a 50% interest in the two solar facilities. Sempra will continue to provide operations and maintenance services to both plants.

“This strategic partnership bolsters Sempra U.S. Gas & Power’s ongoing plan to improve its financial returns, de-consolidate debt and re-deploy the proceeds from the transaction into new renewable growth projects,” explains Kevin C. Sagara, Sempra’s vice president of renewables and corporate development.

Construction on Mesquite Solar, located in Arlington, Ariz., began in 2011. Power from the facility has been sold to Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) under a 20-year contract.

Phase 1 of Copper Mountain Solar is complete and currently generating 92 MW. When the second phase is fully constructed, expected in 2015, the project’s total operating capacity will be 150 MW. PG&E is also buying Copper Mountain’s output under a 20-year agreement.

In September 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Program Office awarded Mesquite Solar a $337 million loan guarantee to build the plant. The agreement is subject to approvals from the DOE and regulatory agencies. Those approvals are anticipated in the second half of this year, and terms of the sale were not disclosed. S

 

Tenaska Sends
Energy To Powerlink

Tenaska has announced its Imperial Solar Energy Center South is delivering power to San Diego Gas & Electric’s (SDG&E) Sunrise Powerlink. The independent power provider says the ground-mounted photovoltaic solar project, which was developed by its affiliate, Tenaska Solar Ventures, will produce up to 130 MW.

According to SDG&E, the newly completed 117-mile Sunrise Powerlink serves as the main catalyst for renewable energy projects by fulfilling its goal as a renewable energy “superhighway” that will deliver green power generated in the Imperial Valley to the San Diego region. It consists of overhead 500 kV and 230 kV transmission lines and towers, an underground 230 kV cable and a 40-acre, 500 kV transmission substation. SDG&E broke ground on the Powerlink in December 2010.

Tenaska Solar Ventures also recently completed permitting for the 150 MW Tenaska Imperial Solar Energy Center West near El Centro, Calif., which is expected to begin construction in 2013, with commercial operation in 2015.

 

DOI Approves
Large Installations

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has approved two major solar energy projects: the 350 MW Midland Solar Energy Project in Nevada and the 100 MW Quartzsite Solar Energy Project in Arizona.

The Quartzsite Solar Project, located in La Paz County, Ariz., was proposed by Quartzsite Solar Energy LLC, a subsidiary of California-based Solar Reserve LLC. The proposed facility is a concentrated solar power design that would cover 1,600 acres of Bureau of Land Management land.

The Midland Solar Project, located near Boulder City, Nev., was proposed by Boulder Solar Power LLC. The PV plant would be built on private land and cross 76 acres of federal transmission corridor.

 

Brockville Project
Now Operational

GDF SUEZ Canada Inc. has announced that its 10 MW Brockville Solar project in Ontario has entered commercial operation under a 20-year power purchase agreement with the Ontario Power Authority.

The $50 million project, developed under Ontario’s feed-in tariff program, consists of 42,000 panels on approximately 80 acres of land. Mitsui & Co. Ltd. and Fiera Axium Infrastructure are GDF SUEZ’s joint venture partners.

The Brockville project is the joint venture’s first solar installation in Canada. It does have a number of wind power generation facilities in operation and under development throughout Canada.

The Brockville project’s lead contractor responsible for engineering, construction and performance was a joint venture of AMEC Americas Ltd. and Black & McDonald Ltd.

 

Maple SunDurance:
New Canadian JV

Canada-based Maple Reinders Constructors Ltd. and New Jersey-based SunDurance Energy LLC have formed Maple SunDurance, a joint venture to perform design/build work on megawatt-scale solar projects in Canada.

The companies say Maple SunDurance will initially focus on the Ontario market for photovoltaic solar projects under the “Large FIT 2” feed-in tariff program administered by the Ontario Power Authority. The utility is expected to open bidding on projects in the near future.

“We believe that this partnership is very timely,” says Harold Reinders, vice president of Maple Reinders. “Project stakeholders have learned the importance of responsive, efficient and bankable partners for their projects, and we believe Maple SunDurance really answers the call.”

 

Systems Powering
Poultry Farms

Renewvia Energy has received five additional power purchase agreements from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) that will allow installation of photovoltaic systems at poultry farms in Calhoun, Ga.

In some cases, the renewable energy systems will generate greater than 100% of the power used by the hosts to operate their hatcheries, and the TVA guarantees the purchase of the excess power for 10 years.

When a 10-year host site lease expires, ownership will transfer to the farms, with about 20 years of life remaining in the system, Renewvia explains. S