E.ON Solar, a part of E.ON SE, announced the completion of Alamo Solar in San Bernardino County, California. The 20-MWac photovoltaic solar facility, located near the town of Oro Grande, marks E.ON’s first solar project executed in the state and is the latest expansion of a growing U.S. footprint.
“E.ON Solar is very proud of Alamo, our first project completed in California,” said Steve Trenholm, president, E.ON Solar. “We intend to build more solar projects in California that create jobs as well as clean energy that doesn’t use water in the production of electricity,” said Trenholm.
San Francisco-based E.ON Solar also announced the sale of Alamo to Dominion, which makes Alamo the first U.S. solar project to be sold by the company.
“The Alamo Solar transaction demonstrates E.ON’s continued ability to deliver high-value renewable energy projects, either solar or wind, that attract the interest of world-class energy investors like Dominion,” said Nathanael Esposito, vice president, Partnering, North America, E.ON.
E.ON’s global experience enables it to build quality, economical solar projects on schedule and on budget, whether E.ON or another entity is the owner or operator. In 2014, Tucson Electric Power (TEP) selected E.ON Solar to build an array on the U.S. Army’s Ft. Huachuca base in Sierra Vista, Arizona, after seeing E.ON’s industry-leading capabilities up close.
The 14-MWac photovoltaic project is the U.S. Department of Defense’s largest solar array on a military installation. In early 2015, E.ON brought the Ft. Huachuca solar project, which has 57,000 panels and serves approximately 25 percent of the base’s electricity needs, into service. TEP also purchases power from two E.ON facilities, Valencia Solar and Tech Park Solar, located near Tucson.
“E.ON Solar is rapidly expanding its development pipeline across the country with a flexible business model that allows us to work with utilities and others to own and operate projects, or build turn-key projects. This is an exciting time for the U.S. market and E.ON is at the forefront of delivering clean energy that doesn’t require water to produce electricity,” said Trenholm.
E.ON Solar has begun construction of another solar project in California, which is expected to reach commercial operation later this year. Currently, legislators in Sacramento are considering two bills to increase California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard. “Strong public policy leadership from Sen. Kevin De Leon, and Rep. Das Williams continues to make California an attractive market for E.ON to expand its solar presence and create jobs,” said Trenholm.
