Sempra Generation anticipates that the project will be fully operational in late 2010. The power from Copper Mountain Solar and Sempra Generation’s adjacent 10MW El Dorado Solar plant is being provided to Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) under separate 20-year contracts.
Together, the two facilities will utilize nearly 1 million thin-film photovoltaic panels supplied by First Solar of Tempe, Arizona. First Solar also serves as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor.
Jeffrey Martin, CEO of Sempra Generation, said: “We are pleased to reach this major milestone so quickly, and we look forward to completing the project later this year. Copper Mountain Solar is delivering a new supply of clean, renewable power to California residents, while creating hundreds of construction jobs.”
Sempra Generation is expanding its renewable energy portfolio throughout the Western US. It has secured permits for a new solar facility in Arizona called Mesquite Solar that could produce up to 600MW of electricity.
The company also is pursing additional solar installations in California along with wind power projects in Baja California, Mexico, and Hawaii.
