By Greentech Lead Team: San
Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has entered into two, long-term contracts
to purchase 300 MW of renewable energy.
The
first of the new agreements is a 20-year contract to purchase 100 MW from
Manzana Wind LLC, a 189 MW wind power facility currently under construction in
the wind-rich Tehachapi region near Rosamond, Calif.
When
completed in late 2012, the project will be comprised of 126, 1.5 MW wind
turbines spread across 4,600 acres. The project represents a reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions comparable to removing more than 21,500 cars off of
California’s roads for one year.
SDG&E
also signed a 25-year agreement to purchase 200 MW of energy from the Mount
Signal Solar project in Imperial Valley, Calif. The transaction was conducted
with a subsidiary of 8minutenergy Renewables of Folsom, Calif., which has a
joint development agreement with AES Solar of Arlington Va., to develop and
build Mount Signal Solar.
The
first 100 MW of energy from the photovoltaic solar energy facility is expected
to be on-line by mid-2013 with project completion slated for late 2013. The
project will be comprised of photovoltaic modules supported by single-axis
tracking structures. The electric output will be transported to market along
SDG&E’s 117-mile Sunrise Powerlink transmission line that is currently
under construction and slated for completion later this year.
“These
contracts continue the significant momentum SDG&E has built over the past
decade in acquiring valuable green energy resources,” said James P. Avery,
senior vice president of power supply for SDG&E.
In
2011, renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and
hydroelectric represented more than 20 percent of the power provided to its 1.4
million electric customers.
“The
Mount Signal Solar project will deliver clean energy for over 72,000 households
in SDG&E’s service area,” said Martin Hermann, chief executive officer
for 8minutenergy Renewables.
“This
power agreement validates our strategy for developing solar energy in
California while creating about 1,000 construction jobs in the Imperial Valley
where the unemployment rate has been ranked among the highest in the
nation,” said Tom Buttgenbach, president of 8minutenergy.
“Iberdrola
Renewables is delighted to continue our relationship with SDG&E,” said
Martin Mugica, executive vice president of Iberdrola Renewables.