Project Focus: SRP to build Arizona’s largest solar plant at 20MW

Salt River Project (SRP) has announced that it is to establish Arizona state’s largest solar power plant in collaboration with Iberdrola Renewables. The 20MW PV power facility will be designed and built by Iberdrola, and, subject to SRP board approval, is scheduled for completion in 2011.

SRP’s management will present the initial proposal for purchase of the plant’s output for a 20- to 25-year timeframe in December. Collaborating with Iberdrola, which has a portfolio of 50MW of solar power projects in the past, SRP recently established Dry Lake Wind Farm, Arizona’s first commercial-scale wind power project.
 
“We are actively pursuing this project because it is not only good for SRP, but it is good for our customers and for the environment,” said Mark Bonsall, SRP’s associate general manager for Commercial and Customer Services. “We want to be in a position to offer our customers a new, lower-cost solar energy option by giving them the opportunity to purchase the green power directly from this solar facility. SRP will utilize whatever output may not be subscribed by our customers, if any.”