CalRENEW-1 has received formal approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
At 5 MW, it is the largest utility-scale PV plant being developed under California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) program. It will be built in the City of Mendota and the electricity will be sold to PG&E under a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA). San Francisco-based Cleantech America is the developer.
"Utility-scale PV solar in California has just transitioned from hopeful concept to reality" said Bill Barnes, CEO of Cleantech America Inc. "With the end of the CPUC 30 day comment period, we now have a formally approved project and the green light to move ahead with equipment procurement and project financing. Equally important, we are beginning to realize the forecast pricing leverage that results from utility-size economies of scale. This greatly enhances photovoltaic solar as a competitive, near-term, large scale response to global warming and energy independence."
Scheduled to begin operations in the spring of 2009, CalRENEW-1 will be one of the most advanced PV facilities in the world, using a variety of PV technologies.
PV solar farms are highly reliable, help energy providers manage uncertainty and mitigate risk, and equip energy providers to meet rigorous demand and capacity challenges. With their modular nature, these large-scale solar farms can be developed incrementally to match growth in demand.
CalRENEW-1 has already attracted numerous expressions of interest from solar equipment manufacturers, research and development operations, and other related businesses to build or relocate facilities to California’s San Joaquin Valley in order to be near a region of active solar and renewable development. In a program designed to stimulate solar jobs growth, Cleantech America Inc., has pledged $20,000 and is working with the City of Mendota to develop programs to re-train unemployed farm workers to become solar installers.
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