Sempra Generation, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, said July 24 that it will develop the company’s first solar energy project.
The 10-megawatt photovoltaic power-generation facility will stand adjacent to Sempra Generation’s El Dorado Energy power plant near Boulder City, Nev.
Planned for completion this year, the El Dorado Energy solar project would be the largest operational thin-film, solar-power project in North America, said company spokesman Art Larson.
Arizona-based First Solar will engineer and build the project. It will also monitor and maintain the plant, which is designed to deliver enough energy to power 4,600 households.
Construction is slated to begin this week, and Sempra Generation hopes to begin entertaining contract bids shortly.
“Generation will entertain any bids from utilities and power customers in the area,” Larson said.
Sempra Generation is not the same company as the Sempra Energy utilities, SDG & E; or SoCalGas, and is not regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission.
Sempra Energy trades on the New York Stock Exchange as SRE. Shares were at $54.65 late in the day on July 24.
, Liz Wiedemann
