PCE Approves Long-Term Power Purchase Agreement

From Peninsula Clean Energy: On January 26th, the Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE) Board of Directors approved a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) to purchase the output from a new 200 MW solar photovoltaic power plant to be built in Merced County. This is enough solar energy to power 32,800 average American homes.

The Wright Solar Park is being developed by San Mateo-based Frontier Solar. This project will be built specifically to provide renewable energy for PCE customers in San Mateo County. Frontier Solar has already received all permits for the project and has set aside a wildlife reserve to mitigate for its land use impacts.

PCE’s board of local elected officials unanimously approved the agreement. “A major goal of Peninsula Clean Energy is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging the development of new renewable energy projects. We are thrilled that the Wright Solar Park project will be built to serve the residents and businesses of San Mateo County,” noted San Mateo County Supervisor and PCE Board Chair Dave Pine.

According to the terms of the PPA, the Wright Solar Park will begin construction by April 2018 and will be delivering solar electricity to PCE by November 30, 2018. The Wright Solar Park signed a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) in 2014 with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Ironworkers, and Operating Engineers for the construction of the solar project. It is expected to have a peak construction labor force of 355 workers and will create the equivalent of 664 job years. The Wright Solar Park project will operate for 35+ years and will employ approximately 6-10 full time positions for maintenance and operations for the duration of the project’s life.

"Frontier Solar is excited to partner with Peninsula Clean Energy to provide renewable energy for San Mateo County, where our company is based," stated CEO Balduin Hesse. "We're proud that Wright Solar Park incorporates the best in environmental and labor practices for utility-scale solar."

As noted in the PCE board agenda, the value of the PPA over the 20-year term will not exceed $550,000,000.

PCE also approved short-term PPAs for three run-of-river hydropower projects located in Shasta County, including Hatchet Creek with 7.5 megawatt capacity, and Roaring Creek and Bidwell Ditch with 2 megawatt capacity each.

Image Via Pixabay