Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has signed a contract with Agua Caliente Solar, a subsidiary of NextLight Renewable Power, for 290MW of solar power to serve PG&E’s customers in Northern and Central California. This is one of many contracts signed by the utility with independent developers aiming for a total of 830MW of solar power.
The project, located in Yuma County Arizona, is PG&E’s second major contract with a subsidiary of NextLight. Earlier in June this year, the companies agreed on a project for 230MW in Antelope Valley California.
This latest project is expected to deliver approximately 700GWh of energy per year. This can potentially serve the needs of more than 100,000 homes. Both projects are subject to approval by the California Public Utilities Commission.
“In keeping with state policy and our own commitment to a cleaner energy future, we continue aggressively to pursue additional sources of renewable power,” said Fong Wan, senior vice president of energy procurement at PG&E. “Our agreements with NextLight will help PG&E, and the state of California, show continued leadership in the development of solar power.”
Initial deliveries are expected to begin in mid-2012; the project is expected to be fully operational by late 2014.
