First Solar to Provide 300 MW to PG&E from Desert Sunlight Project
Source/Type: News - Staff reports

Author: CompoundSemi News Staff

March 10, 2010... First Solar of Tempe, Arizona USA, announced a photovoltaic power purchase agreement to supply Pacific Gas and Electric Company electricity from a 300 megawatt (AC) photovoltaic solar power facility. First Solar is reportedly developing the solar power facility in Southern California. According to First Solar, the Desert Sunlight project, to be located near Desert Center in eastern Riverside County, Calif., will have a total capacity of 550 megawatts, enough to power approximately 160,000 area homes or provide power for 480,000 residents. The other 250 MW portion of the project is already under contract to Southern California Edison (SCE). First Solar's power purchase agreements with PG&E and SCE are subject to the approval of the California Public Utilities Commission.

First Solar will build the Desert Sunlight project using its cadmium telluride CdTe thin-film photovoltaic solar modules and provide its project development, engineering, procurement, and construction capabilities. Construction on the project is expected to start by the end of 2010, and completion is planned for as early as 2013. First Solar says that the project will create approximately 430 construction jobs. The project's permit application has been fast tracked by the Bureau of Land Management.

"First Solar is one of the few companies that has all the capabilities required to realize very large, utility-scale solar projects like Desert Sunlight, which are important in helping our customers and California reach the state's renewable energy goals," said Rob Gillette, First Solar chief executive officer. First Solar News Release

See the Current Industry News Summary
See this article in its orginal context, with the other current news from the same week