First Solar starts major construction at US solar project

First Solar senior vice president of engineering, procurement and construction, and operations and maintenance said, "First Solar is pleased to be working on the Topaz project and other PV solar projects with MidAmerican Solar."

Under a 25-year power purchase agreement, Pacific Gas and Electric Company will purchase the electricity from the Topaz project which will be complete in 2015.

Initial works began in November 2011 at the project, owned by MidAmerican Solar, which will be constructed, operated and maintained by First Solar.

The Topaz project, which will employ First Solar’s advanced thin-film PV modules, will offset 377,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.

On completion, the project will provide power for 160,000 homes and generate nearly $417m in local economic impact during the three-year construction period.

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