Major SoCal Power Provider Improves Green Portfolio
Thursday, February 16th 2012 6:11 PM
By GetSolar Staff.
San Diego Gas & Electric recently announced that it has entered into two long-term contracts for 300 megawatts of renewable energy, including 200 megawatts of solar energy. With the purchase, the company has now substantially expanded its portfolio of emissions free power, while increasing California solar installation power.
The first of the new agreements recently signed by the company is a 20-year contract to purchase 100 megawatts of energy from a 189-megawatt power facility that is currently under construction in Tehachapi, close to Rasamond, California.
The project is expected to be completed in late 2012 and consist of 126 wind turbines that will harness 1.5 megawatts of power. The project will cut emissions equal to those that are produced by about 21,500 cars each year.
The second contract is a 25-year agreement to purchase 200 megawatts of energy from the Mount Signal project in Imperial Valley. The first 100 megawatts of energy from solar energy facility is projected to be available by the end of 2013. The project will utilize SDG&E Sunrise Powerlink transmission line to carry the electrical output. The line is still being built, but is expected to be completed later in 2012.
"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 our 1.4 million electric customers. This is a terrific accomplishment given the fact that we had just one percent renewable power in our portfolio 10 years ago and about 12 percent renewables in our power portfolio in 2010."
Avery added that the company is well on its way to meeting the state's goal and acquiring 33 percent of its power from renewable sources in 2020.
While the companies included in the deal are excited about the partnership, the contracts still require approval from the California Public Utilities Commission.
"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 Martin Hermann, CEO of 8minuteenergy Renewables.
With major energy providers expanding their solar energy portfolios, more businesses and residential consumers in California will have access to the clean source of power. Solar energy is even expanding to chain restaurants in California, with a Taco Bell in Moreno Valley recently announcing it will have solar panels installed at the location, which would make it the first restaurant in Moreno Valley to run off solar, according to local news source InlandSoCal.
The rate of California solar installation is a model for the nation. The Solar Energy Industries Association recently reported that solar power installation increased 67 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011, largely driven by the 1603 Treasury program, which the solar industry is attempting to get renewed. President Barack Obama's recent budget proposal did include a renewal of the renewable energy incentive program.
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San Diego Gas & Electric recently announced that it has entered into two long-term contracts for 300 megawatts of renewable energy, including 200 megawatts of solar energy. With the purchase, the company has now substantially expanded its portfolio of emissions free power, while increasing California solar installation power.
