Solar Industry to Boom in California

August 5, 2011 in Green Business, Green Business News, Green Stories with 43 Comments

Solar Power to Increase in California - Image from Wikipedia

California’s Sempra Generation of Sempra Energy and Pacific Gas and Electric Company said today they have entered into a contract for 150 megawatts of solar energy at a plant called Copper Mountain Solar 2. The contract will last 25 years, will produce 175 green jobs and is made possible because Sempra Generation’s Mountain Solar complex has expanded in Boulder City, Nev.

The first 92 megawatts of the 150 megawatts of solar energy panels should be installed at Copper Mountain Solar 2 by January 2013, while the rest of the megawatts should be installed by 2015. First Solar, a world leader in manufacturing photovoltaic solar modules, will produce the solar energy project’s solar panels and be the project’s construction contractor. The renewable energy contract will increase the use of solar energy and subsequently the opportunity for green jobs.

“Copper Mountain Solar 2 is another exciting step forward on our plan to construct 1,000 megawatts of additional renewable capacity by 2015,” said Jeffrey Martin, CEO and president of Sempra Generation.

Solar Energy Project to Power Thousands of Homes

The construction of Copper Mountain Solar 2 will take place on 1,100 acres and should begin early next year. When completed, the Copper Mountain Solar 2 solar energy plant will generate a sufficient amount of zero-emission electricity so as to power about 45,000 California consumers’ homes.

The benefit of the Copper Mountain Solar 2 project is that it will decrease the cost of renewable energy such as solar energy. First Solar and Sempra Generation late last year completed a 48-megawatt solar project called Copper Mountain Solar 1 – the nation’s biggest photovoltaic solar energy plant. The new green jobs plant, Copper Mountain Solar 2, should produce three times the amount of energy produced by Copper Mountain Solar 1.

“Copper Mountain Solar 2 is a great opportunity for PG&E to continue down the path toward a clean energy future – a vision we share with our customers,” said Fong Wang, senior vice president for procurement for Pacific Gas and Electric Company. “We are delighted to be part of this partnership that will allow us to deliver more green power to meet our customers’ long-term electricity needs.”

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About YaShekia King: YaShekia King, of Indianapolis, Ind., began writing professionally in 2003. Her work has appeared in several print and online publications including the “South Bend Tribune,”Ehow.com, Wisegeek.com and “Clouds Across the Stars,” an international book. King holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ball State University. She also is a licensed real estate agent, is a clinical certified dental assistant and is completing her master’s degree in human resource management through DeVry University. Connect with YaShekia on YaShekia King

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