First Solar Inc of Tempe,AZ,USA says that it is developing the 139MWAC Campo Verde Solar Project,located near El Centro in Imperial County,CA,using its cadmium telluride(CdTe)thin-film photovoltaic modules.
Campo Verde is expected to start construction in third-quarter 2012 and be completed in 2013,creating about 250 construction jobs.San Diego Gas&Electric Company(SDG&E)will purchase the project's output under a 20-year power purchase agreement,which was approved on 24 May by the California Public Utilities Commission.
The project will generate enough electricity to power about 50,000 average California homes,displacing 80,000 metric tons of CO2 per year(equivalent to taking 15,000 cars off the road).
"First Solar is very pleased to be working with SDG&E for the first time,"says Brian Kunz,First Solar's VP of project development,North America.
The Campo Verde project is jointly owned by First Solar and US Solar Holdings LLC(developer of solar-powered generation in the USA,with offices in Boise,Phoenix and San Diego).However,First Solar has contractual rights to acquire 100%ownership interest and is in the process of completing its acquisition.