Comanche Solar Project, a 156MWdc solar power plant located in Peublo, Colorado, has been broken ground after its developer SunEdison completed an US$253 million financing and selected Renewable Energy Systems (RES) as the constructer. When complete, the Comanche Solar Project will be the largest solar power plant east of the Rocky Mountains.
RES will install the plant’s balance of systems under the agreement with SunEdison. The project, which will be financed through SunEdison’s US$1.5 billion non-recourse, First Reserve Warehouse, will utilize PV technology equipped with single axis tracker for optimizing electricity production by following the sun’s path during the day. The plant is expected to generate more than 300GWh of energy per year, offsetting 478 million pounds of CO2 emissions.
Public Service Company of Colorado, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy with more than 1.4 million customers, will purchase electricity generated by the solar power plant under a 25-year power purchase agreement with SunEdison. The power contract was awarded as part of an open solicitation where Comanche Solar was selected as preferred to other forms of energy, including natural gas.
"SunEdison and RES are teaming up to build the largest solar facility in Colorado and the biggest east of the Rockies. This project will deliver clean energy to Colorado homes and businesses at a competitive price, and is an excellent proof point demonstrating that we can support the Administration's Clean Power Plan with cost-competitive, solar technology," said Paul Gaynor, Executive Vice President of SunEdison's EMEA & Americas business unit.
SunEdison acquired Comanche Solar in 2014 from the original developer, Community Energy. The solar power plant is expected to be completed during the first half of 2016. Wells Fargo is providing tax equity for the project.
This is the second renewable energy project constructed by RES in Colorado. RES built the 250MW Cedar Point wind facility in 2011.