E.ON Solar, a part of E.ON SE, announced the completion of Alamo Solar (Alamo) in San Bernardino County, California. The 20 MWac solar PV 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. Alamo will be sold to Dominion, making it the first U.S. solar project to be sold by E.ON Solar.
"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.
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. The 14 MWac PV 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% 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.