News

Terra-Gen to Sell 947-MW Alta Wind Power Portfolio to NRG Yield

Terra-Gen Power (Terra-Gen), an affiliate of ArcLight Capital Partners and Global Infrastructure Partners, signed a purchase and sale agreement with NRG Yield for the sale of its 947-MW Alta Wind I-V, X & XI, and Realty projects (Alta Wind). Terra-Gen expects to close the transaction in the third quarter of 2014, pending customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approval by FERC and the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission.

Jim Spiers to Lead NRECA’s Cooperative Research Network

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) named Jim Spiers v.p. of technology, engineering and economic analysis. In this position, Spiers will lead NRECA’s Cooperative Research Network (CRN). Spiers currently serves as senior v.p. of business strategy/chief technology officer for Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association.

First Wind to Sell Power from Utah Solar Projects to Rocky Mountain Power

First Wind finalized seven 20-year PPAs with Rocky Mountain Power, a division of PacifiCorp. As part of the purchase agreements, Rocky Mountain Power will buy the output of the planned 20-MW Seven Sisters projects under its obligation from the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, or PURPA. The Seven Sisters portfolio includes seven separate solar photovoltaic projects, four of which are to be sited in Beaver County and three to be located in Iron County, Utah.

Seattle City Light Embarks Upon its Largest Community Solar Project to Date

Seattle City Light, the Woodland Park Zoo and the Phinney Neighborhood Association (PNA) installed Washington state's largest community solar project to date. The Community Solar on Phinney Ridge project is designed for a 73 to 74 kW system on the roofs of two buildings at the zoo and PNA's Phinney Center. Anyone with a Seattle City Light account can purchase part of the array's output and the cost of which can be added to a participant's electric bill and paid in two installments.

GE, Princeton Power Systems, Partners Build Solar Power Microgrid in Africa

The government of Equatorial Guinea selected MAECI Solar, a division of Management and Economic Consulting, Inc., in collaboration with GE Power & Water and Princeton Power Systems, to install a 5-MW solar microgrid system on Annobon Province, an island off Equatorial Guinea in west central Africa. The solar microgrid will feature 5-MW solar modules and system integration by MAECI, an energy management system and controls from Princeton Power Systems and energy storage from GE.

DTE Energy Buys Wind Park from NextEra Energy Resources LLC

DTE Energy exercised its option to purchase one of the two Pheasant Run wind parks from a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources LLC. Financial details were not disclosed. The 75-MW Pheasant Run II wind park will be renamed the Brookfield Wind Park as a result of the purchase. Operating since earlier this year, it will shut down for one to two weeks to accomplish the ownership transition and convert the communication infrastructure.

SunPower, AE-AMD Renewable Energy Complete Two Solar Projects in South Africa

SunPower and AE-AMD Renewable Energy, a joint venture between the Spanish AMDA energía and the South African Alt-E Technologies, as well as its partners have completed two South African ground-mounted solar projects and are now feeding 33 MW into the grid. Both projects, which were constructed by SunPower, are located near Douglas, South Africa in the Northern Cape Province. Herbert, a 22-MW project, and the 11-MW Greefspan project, were both part of the South African government's Independent Power Producers Procurement Program.

One Millionth Solar Module Installed at Solar Star Projects

MidAmerican Solar and SunPower installed the one millionth photovoltaic module at the Solar Star projects, co-located in Kern and Los Angeles counties in California. When complete, the 579-MW projects will have more than 1.7 million modules installed. The first solar module was installed in March 2013. The Solar Star projects are owned by MidAmerican Solar and are being constructed by SunPower, which also will provide operations and maintenance services. Construction on the projects began in 2013 and is expected to be complete by year-end 2015.

First Solar Completes Sale of 250MW Silver State South to NextEra Energy Resources

First Solar completed the sale of the 250-MW Silver State South Solar Project to a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The project is adjacent to the 50MWAC Silver State North Project, which was developed and built by First Solar and commissioned in 2012. First Solar developed and designed the Silver State South project, and will provide EPC services to NextEra. All the power from Silver State South will be sold to Southern California Edison under a long-term PPA.

Xcel Energy and SunPower to Build 50-MW Solar Power Plant in Colorado

Xcel Energy and SunPower signed a PPA to build a 50-MW solar power plant in Colorado's San Luis Valley. Construction of the solar power plant is contingent on the project securing all required permits, interconnection rights and financing. SunPower expects to start construction in 2015, and to achieve full commercial operation by the end of 2016. At the 320-acre site, SunPower will design and build a SunPower Oasis Power Plant system.