NRG Energy opens Alpine Solar Generating Facility in Lancaster, Calif

Greentech Lead America: NRG Energy, through its wholly owned subsidiary NRG Solar, has opened the Alpine Solar Generating Facility in Lancaster, Calif.

The 66 megawatt (AC) Alpine solar photovoltaic facility, which started commercial operations earlier this year, is currently the largest fully operational solar plant in California. The cost-competitive, renewable power generated by the facility is being sold to PG&E under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

Alpine is one of eight large-scale photovoltaic solar facilities owned by NRG that currently produces clean solar power for thousands of homes and businesses in three states.

Located in northern Los Angeles County, Alpine will generate enough energy to meet the annual needs of approximately 53,000 homes at peak daytime capacity. Because the facility produces electricity without fossil fuels, it helps avoid the annual emission of 36,000 tons of carbon into the atmosphere, or the equivalent of taking 6,600 cars off the road.

The other seven completed or partially completed plants are Agua Caliente (under construction) and Avra Valley in Arizona; Roadrunner in New Mexico; and Avenal, Blythe, Borrego and California Valley Solar Ranch (under construction) in California.

NRG Solar has more than 2,000 MW of photovoltaic and solar thermal projects in operation, under construction or in development across the southwestern United States.

[email protected]