California

Digest (August 2014)

Florida Power & Light Company partners with PetroQuest Energy to develop natural gas production wells in southeastern Oklahoma; First Solar receives financing approval to build a 141-MW solar power plant in Chile; DTE Energy will deploy Tollgrade’s LightHouse MV smart grid sensors and predictive grid analytics platform within its distribution network in Detroit; US DOE chooses Abengoa, together with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Colorado School of Mines, to develop a new solar storage technology for thermoelectric plants.

Smart by Default

Time-varying rates from the get-go – not just by opt-in.

Default enrollment for time-varying rates, with an opt-out, will reduce peak demand and far more than a default flat rate with a TVR opt-in.

Energy Department Invests Over $10 Million to Improve Grid Reliability and Resiliency

The Energy Department announced more than $10 million for projects to improve the reliability and resiliency of the U.S. electric grid and facilitate quick and effective response to grid conditions. This investment which includes six projects across five states- California, Hawaii, Missouri, North Carolina and Washington - will help further the deployment of advanced software that works with synchrophasor technology to better detect quickly-changing grid conditions and improve grid reliability.

Dominion Acquires CID Solar Project from EDF Renewable Energy

Dominion acquired the CID Solar Project from EDF Renewable Energy (EDF RE). The asset sale agreement will close upon completion of installation, after which EDF RE will manage the commissioning and place the project in service. CID Solar Project, located on 200 acres of private land in eastern Kings County, California, was developed by EDF RE and is designed as a 27 MWp / 20 MWac ground-mount facility comprised of First Solar Series 3 solar photovoltaic modules with horizontal single-axis trackers.

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.

Making Peace With Solar

Electric executives open up on what they’re planning next.

Electric power executives open up about their solar investments. What motivates them? What are they planning next?

First Solar Sells Macho Springs Solar Project to Southern Power and Turner Renewable Energy

First Solar sold the 50-MW Macho Springs Solar Power Plant to Southern Company subsidiary Southern Power and Turner Renewable Energy. El Paso Electric has a 20-year PPA for all energy generated by the power plant. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The power plant, located on approximately 600 acres of State Trust land near Deming, New Mexico, is the state's largest solar power plant.

Abengoa Completes the Construction of the Mount Signal Solar Photovoltaic Plant

Abengoa completed construction of Mount Signal Solar, the 206-MW photovoltaic plant in the city of Calexico, south east of California. Abengoa was responsible for the engineering, construction and commissioning of the plant for Silver Ridge Power. The project covers 801 hectares and includes more than three million photovoltaic modules that rotate on a north-south axis tracking the path of the sun.

SunEdison Partners With Rosedale Union School District To Deliver 1.8 MW Of Solar Power

SunEdison partnered with Rosedale Union School District (RUSD) in Bakersfield, Calif. to install, monitor and manage 1.8 MW of solar at the district's nine schools. Solar shade canopies will be constructed in parking lots at the district's schools, taking advantage of underutilized space to produce solar energy and provide needed shade for parking. Project completion is scheduled by the end of the year. SunEdison will install, monitor and maintain the solar system at no additional expense to the district.

NextEra Dedicates 250 MW Solar Power Plant, Sells Power to PG&E

NextEra Energy Resources, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy dedicated the company's 250 MW Genesis Solar Energy Center, located in Riverside County, Calif. All of the power generated by the solar facility is being provided to Pacific Gas & Electric under a long-term contract. The solar facility, which is comprised of two identical 125-MW generating units, entered service in November 2013 and March 2014, respectively and is owned and operated by an affiliate of NextEra Energy Resources.