8minutenergy wins nod for 135 MW of California PV

Oct 16, 2014 - US solar park developer 8minutenergy Renewables LLC said yesterday it has received conditional approval to build up to 135 MW of photovoltaic (PV) parks in California.

The Conditional Use Permits (CUP) were issued by the Kern County Board of Supervisors through an unanimous vote.

The utility-scale Redwood solar plants will be constructed in Kern County by 61LK 8ME LLC, a unit of 8minutenergy. The PV systems will be installed on low-productivity agricultural land and will be equipped with an advanced solar tracking system. 8minutenergy plants to start work in December and complete the parks in the middle of next year.

Once operational, the solar plants are seen to generate 350 million kWh of electricity per year, or enough to supply 65,000 Californians. The output will also help save nearly 400,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually, the developer estimates.

An environmental impact report on the project has already been completed. At the end of 2013, 8minutenergy sealed a generation interconnection agreement with the California Independent Systems Operator Corporation (CAISO) and utility Pacific Gas and Electric Company (NYSE:PCG), or PG&E, for 90 MW of capacity. PG&E, Southern California Edison Co (NYSEMKT:SCE-E) and the city of Palo Alto will buy the output of the plants.

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