11.01.15
First Solar, Inc. and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) have announced the formal execution of a power purchase agreement (PPA) for offtake of a 10.8 megawatt solar project to be built on the site of the decommissioned Rancho Seco Nuclear Generation Station.
The Rancho Seco Solar Project will annually generate more than 22,000 MWh of renewable energy, which will be offered to SMUD business customers through the utility’s Commercial SolarShares program. The new Golden 1 Center is the first announced customer that will receive electricity generated by Rancho Seco.
“This project will further enhance the renewable aspect our power mix, which is already about 50% non-carbon-emitting, helping us meet our Board of Directors’ and the state’s carbon objectives,” said Frankie McDermott, SMUD chief generation and grid assets officer. “The use of previously-developed land at Rancho Seco and existing SMUD-owned power lines also provides significant environmental benefit.”
Construction of the new Rancho Seco Solar Project is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2015, with commercial operation beginning in mid-2016.
The Rancho Seco Solar Project will annually generate more than 22,000 MWh of renewable energy, which will be offered to SMUD business customers through the utility’s Commercial SolarShares program. The new Golden 1 Center is the first announced customer that will receive electricity generated by Rancho Seco.
“This project will further enhance the renewable aspect our power mix, which is already about 50% non-carbon-emitting, helping us meet our Board of Directors’ and the state’s carbon objectives,” said Frankie McDermott, SMUD chief generation and grid assets officer. “The use of previously-developed land at Rancho Seco and existing SMUD-owned power lines also provides significant environmental benefit.”
Construction of the new Rancho Seco Solar Project is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2015, with commercial operation beginning in mid-2016.