The US Department of the Navy (DON), Western Area Power Administration and Sempra US Gas & Power have signed an agreement to build a 210 MW solar power plant that will supply energy to 14 Navy installations.
The agreement is the largest purchase of renewable energy ever made by a federal entity. The solar plant will diversify DON’s energy portfolio and provide long term cost stability, said the Navy Office of Information in a statement.
The solar power plant will be located 60 miles west of Phoenix, Arizona. More than 650 000 PV panels will be installed on ground-mounted, horizontal single-axis trackers and will provide one-third of the energy needed to power 14 Navy and Marine Corps installations.
Construction of Mesquite Solar 3 will begin in August and is expected to be completed by the end of 2016.
