The solar project is said to be the first to result from the partnership forged by Southern Company and Turner Renewable Energy in January and will supply power to approximately 9,000 homes.
David Ratcliffe, chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company, said: “Expanding the role renewables play in our energy mix is a priority for Southern Company. Renewables, along with new nuclear, increased energy efficiency, cleaner coal technology and additional natural gas, all will be crucial to meeting this nation’s growing energy demand.”
Ted Turner, founder of Turner Renewable Energy, said: “It is great that large-scale solar photovoltaic power generation is becoming a reality in the US. Southern Turner Renewable Energy is excited to develop and own this project and we look forward to generating clean renewable energy in New Mexico.”
The Southern Turner Cimarron I solar project is adjacent to Turner’s Vermejo Park Ranch in northern New Mexico. First Solar is the contractor for both engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and operation and maintenance for the facility.
Construction of the solar array will begin this month with completion and commercial operation expected by year end 2010. It will consist of approximately 500,000 2’x 4′ photovoltaic modules constructed with First Solar’s patented thin film semiconductor technology.
Electricity generated by the plant will serve a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, a wholesale power supplier to 44 electric cooperatives serving approximately 1.4 million customers across Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming.
