SunEdison, Inc. has acquired the 156 megawatt Comanche Solar power generation plant in Colorado.
The company has partnered with Community Energy to complete the financing and procurement stage. After this phase, it will manage the construction, operation and maintenance of the solar farm.
Construction of the facility, which will incorporate more than 400,000 solar panels, is expected to commence in 2015; with view to commencing commercial operations in 2016.
Power generated by Comanche Solar will be purchased by Xcel Energy under a 25 year power purchase agreement (PPA) – at a price that Excel says “is right”.
“Solar energy is an increasingly important part of our energy future and it is clear that many of our customers and fellow Colorado citizens share that belief,” said David Eves, president and CEO of Public Service Company of Colorado, an Xcel Energy company.
“We want to make sure that solar energy policy encourages the development of solar energy in a transparent and sustainable manner.”
Eric Blank, President of Community Energy, says the Comanche project represents a new era in solar and SunEdison states solar power is now an economical choice for utilities across the USA.
“SunEdison welcomes the opportunity to work with other project developers across America and together, to show our utility customers how solar energy can serve both the bottom line and their community’s desire for clean energy,” said Bob Powell, president, North America at SunEdison .
The SunEdison convoy rolls on; accumulating projects and interests in a variety of areas in the solar sector. Last week SunEdison announced it would be constructing a 14-megawatt solar farm in Clark County, Nevada for Southern Nevada Water.
SunEdison’s reach has now extended to Australian shores after an announcement last week that the solar giant had received backing from the nation’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation. The CEFC has committed to provide up to $70 million to the company to set up new financing programs for residential and commercial solar power system installation.
