Californians powered by the sun

BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA - More than 15,000 consumers in California will get their energy from a 21-megawatt solar power plant, the largest in the country, developers said.

First Solar and NRG Energy said they started commercial operations at the 21-MW solar power facility in Blythe, California.

NRG said at peak capacity, the solar farm will meet the energy needs of 17,000 California homes. The solar electricity from the facility is purchased by utility Southern California Edison under the terms of a 20-year purchase agreement.

"Solar is the great untapped resource in California and we are pleased to be part of this significant milestone for solar development in our state," said Marc Ulrich, a vice president for renewable energy at SCE.

The photovoltaic panels developed by First Solar provide sustainable energy while avoiding the release of more than 12,000 tons of harmful emissions. That is roughly equal to removing 2,200 vehicles from California roads.

The Blythe solar farm is the largest photovoltaic project in the United States, NRG Energy said.

Related News

Chief executive Ben van Beurden

Shell’s strategic move into electricity

LONDON - Royal Dutch Shell’s decision to sell electricity direct to industrial customers is an intelligent and creative one. The shift is strategic and demonstrates that oil and gas majors are capable of adapting to a new world as the transition to a lower carbon economy develops. For those already in the business of providing electricity it represents a dangerous competitive threat. For the other oil majors it poses a direct challenge on whether they are really thinking about the future sufficiently strategically.

The move starts small with a business in the UK that will start trading early next year. Shell…

READ MORE
damaged power grid

New Power Grid “Report Card” Reveal Dangerous Vulnerabilities

READ MORE

ev charger

If B.C. wants to electrify all road vehicles by 2055, it will need to at least double its power output: study

READ MORE

hydro one

Hydro One extends ban on electricity disconnections until further notice

READ MORE

coal power plant smoke

Carbon emissions fall as electricity producers move away from coal

READ MORE