First Solar Power Plant 250 MW In Size Underway In Nevada

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Ground was recently broken on the planned 250 MW Silver State South Solar Project in Primm, Nevada, according to recent announcements.

The project — which is being developed jointly by First Solar, NextEra Energy Resources, and Southern California Edison — will be located about 40 miles south of Las Vegas, right on the border with California.

While the first thing that comes to mind these days when you think of Nevada might be the Tesla Gigafactory, the Gigafactory will be located on Electric Avenue in McCarran, Nevada, which is nearly 500 miles, or 8 hours, away. Plus, the project is set to be bought and operated by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources — with the electricity produced being supplied to Southern California Edison, as per a long-term contract. So, the Gigafactory and First Solar power plant announcements being so close together is just a coincidence.

But the First Solar power plant is still worthy of some coverage. 250 MW is a big solar power plant. If the project were completed today, it would be tied for 4th on the list of the world’s largest solar PV power plants.

Part of the reason for the location is the proximity to an important transportation hub — as well as the close proximity to an already existing conventional power plant and transmission infrastructure.


 

“Renewable energy sources such as solar power play an important role in the future energy mix in this country,” stated Armando Pimentel, president and chief executive officer of NextEra Energy Resources. “We look forward to working with First Solar and Southern California Edison to make this project a reality.”

“Coming on the eve of the Clean Energy Summit, the timing of the Silver State South groundbreaking couldn’t be more perfect,” noted Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. “This project proves again that solar energy is the wave of the future. It stimulates economic growth, creates jobs, and replaces fossil-fueled energy with clean solar power.”

The development of the project will create around 300 temporary construction jobs and a number of permanent ones.

The project is currently expected to be completed sometime before early 2016, and will provide enough power to meet the needs of roughly 80,000 homes a year.


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James Ayre

James Ayre's background is predominantly in geopolitics and history, but he has an obsessive interest in pretty much everything. After an early life spent in the Imperial Free City of Dortmund, James followed the river Ruhr to Cofbuokheim, where he attended the University of Astnide. And where he also briefly considered entering the coal mining business. He currently writes for a living, on a broad variety of subjects, ranging from science, to politics, to military history, to renewable energy.

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