PG&E Signs Deal for Yuma Solar Power
Pacific Gas & Electric Utility Company in Northern California asked regulators on Thursday to approve the purchase of Electricity from an Arizona solar power plant NextLight Renewable Power. NextLight will construct the 290-megawatt Aqua Caliente photovoltaic farm on private land in Yuma County, Ariz.
The San Francisco company signed a deal with P.G.&E. in June to supply 230 megawatts from a solar power plant to be built outside of Los Angeles.
Mr. Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill on Sunday that would have required California utilities to obtain 33 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020, mostly from in-state projects.
Environmental groups and unions supported that provision as a way to limit the need to build new transmission lines and to keep construction jobs in California. But the governor said it would hamstring utilities from complying with the 33 percent target, which he supports.
Arizona regulators have already approved the project from NextLight, who expects to obtain county building permits within the next few months. The problem with building facilities in California is that that the licensing process can take years. The Agua Caliente project is also located near existing transmission lines that connect to California’s power grid.
If the California Public Utilities Commission approves the 28-year contract, construction will begin in 2010 and electricity will begin to be generated by 2012 as the first phase of the solar farm comes online. The project would be completed by 2014.
NextLight Renewable expects the power plant to create 300 to 400 construction jobs with a permanent staff of 20 to 50.
