SDG&E Signs Solar Thermal Electric and Other Renewable Energy Pacts

[jpak]

http://www.solarbuzz.com/News/NewsNAPR543.htm

San Diego Gas & Electric has contracted to buy 300 megawatts of solar thermal electric power, with the potential to grow to 900 MW within 10 years. The project would be one of the largest solar thermal electric facilities in the world when fully constructed. The utility also announced the purchase of approximately 4 MW of energy and capacity from a local biogas landfill project.

"At SDG&E, we have pledged to tap resources like solar and biogas power to meet 20 percent of our customers' energy needs by 2010," said Edwin A. Guiles, chairman and CEO of SDG&E. "With these purchases, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to creating a balanced mix of renewable and fossil energy resources for the region."

SDG&E will purchase the solar energy from Arizona-based Stirling Energy Systems. SDG&E and Stirling have agreed to a 20-year contract to first purchase 300 MW from Stirling's SES Solar 2 facility, home to a series of Stirling solar dishes on approximately 3 square miles in Imperial Valley.

SDG&E has options on two future phases that could add an additional 600 MW of renewable energy and capacity to SDG&E's resource mix. While solar energy is not always available because of environmental factors, it is generally abundant during the hottest parts of the day, making it available to meet peak demand from customers.

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[delete_bush]

1. great news, in addition it was announced recently that

"Southern California Edison (SCE), the nation's leading purchaser of renewable energy, and Stirling Energy Systems today announced an agreement that could result in construction of a massive, 4,500-acre solar generating station in Southern California. When completed, the proposed power station would be the world's largest solar facility, capable of producing more electricity than all other U.S. solar projects combined."

"The 20-year power purchase agreement signed today, which is subject to California Public Utilities Commission approval, calls for development of a 500-megawatt (MW) solar project 70 miles northeast of Los Angeles using innovative Stirling dish technology. The agreement includes an option to expand the project to 850 MW. Initially, Stirling would build a one-MW test facility using 40 of the company's 37-foot-diameter dish assemblies. Subsequently, a 20,000-dish array would be constructed near Victorville, Calif., during a four-year period."

Now if Candad would just adopt us, we can make real progress!