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SunPower has signed a 20-year PPA with NV Energy to build a 100MW solar PV power plant located in the Eldorado Valley of Boulder City, Nevada. The Boulder Solar Project was originally planned and developed by KOMIPO America, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Korea Midland Power Co., and SunPower acquired it for future construction, operation and ownership.
During construction, the Boulder Solar will create about 200 jobs. The plant is expected to commence before the end of 205, with commercial operation planned in 2016. When being operational, the project is expected to generate enough electricity to power more than 15,000 local homes, and offset nearly 192,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually.
The PPA signed by SunPower and NV Energy is subject to approval from Nevada’s Public Utilities Commission. In addition, SunPower plans to offer the Boulder Solar project for sale to 8point3 Energy Partners LP, the YieldCo joint venture formed by SunPower and First Solar.
"Today, power generated from solar plants is cost-competitive with power from traditional, fossil fuel burning plants – and becoming more cost-competitive every day," said Tom Werner, SunPower CEO and president. "Increasingly, utilities are adding solar to their energy mix to ensure their customers are taking advantage of the reliable and emission-free power of the sun. We are pleased to partner again with NV Energy to enable more Nevada homes and businesses to take advantage of the state's abundant solar resource."
SunPower plans to design and build a SunPower® Oasis® Power Plant system for the Boulder Solar project. The technology is a fully integrated, modular solar power block solution for utility-scale solar projects that is designed to optimize land use and engineered for rapid, cost-effective installation.
SunPower has two solar power plants under construction currently in Nevada, bringing jobs and economic opportunity to the state. They include a 15-megawatt plant at Nellis Air Force Base and a 19.9-megawatt plant in Lyon County. A 13.2-megawatt SunPower power plant has been operational at Nellis Air Force Base since 2007.
(Photo Credit: SunPower's facebook page)
