by Brianna Crandall — January 26, 2011—U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced on January 20 the offer of a conditional commitment to Agua Caliente Solar for a loan guarantee of up to $967 million to support construction of a 290-megawatt photovoltaic solar generating facility located in Yuma County, Arizona, that will use thin film solar panels from First Solar, Inc. The project sponsor, NRG Solar, estimates the project will be the largest photovoltaic generation facility in the world when it is completed.
According to NRG estimates, the Agua Caliente Solar Project will create 400 construction jobs in addition to generating state and local tax revenues. The company anticipates the project will avoid approximately 237,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to taking more than 40,000 cars off the road annually. In addition, at full capacity, NRG estimates the project will provide clean, emissions-free electricity for approximately 100,000 homes.
The Agua Caliente Solar project will deploy fault ride-through and dynamic voltage regulation, technologies that are new to solar power plants in the United States. These technologies will improve the reliability and predictability of the electricity generated by solar power plants and supplied to the electricity grid. Pacific Gas and Electric Company will purchase power generated from the project and deliver clean, renewable electricity to California consumers.
