L.A. Department of Water and Power pulls plug on 55MW Niland solar farm; First Solar loses out

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

The Los Angeles Times has reported that plans for a 970-acre solar PV farm near the Salton Sea in southeastern California have been shelved because of cost concerns. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power made the move at the same time that City Council members indicated they were not going to back the project.

The 55MW (AC) Niland project, announced in August, was to have been designed, engineered, and built by First Solar and equipped with the thin-film PV company’s CdTe modules. Construction was to have begun in 2010 and be completed in 2011.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The news story also mentions increasing tensions between the utility and the council, much of which is centered about possible increases in rates and how Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s “ambitious renewable energy plans” for the city (which include moving to 40% clean energy sources by 2020) might lead to higher electrical bills for ratepayers.

Read Next

August 27, 2026
US- and Canada-based PV module producer Heliene is among the companies trialling a new American-made solar glass currently being tested for sale in the US market.
August 27, 2026
This week's PV Chart of the Week looks at forecast solar PV supply chain from polysilicon to modules until 2027.
August 27, 2026
Potentia Energy has completed its 98MW Quorn Park solar-plus-storage project in New South Wales, featuring a 20MW/40MWh BESS.
August 27, 2026
US President Donald Trump has banned the import of inverters, transformers and other power equipment that pose a potential risk to US grid security.
Premium
August 27, 2026
Domestically produced solar glass is a key gap in the US PV manufacturing ecosystem. Tom Kenning reports on efforts to kick-start local production of this vital material
August 27, 2026
Germany-headquartered inverter manufacturer SMA Solar is expanding its Large Scale and Project Solutions business to cater for the fast-growing data centre market.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 13, 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Solar Media Events
November 3, 2026
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
November 24, 2026
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
February 2, 2027
London, UK