Southern Power buys majority of 300-MW solar project in California

Southern Power, a unit of US energy firm Southern Co (NYSE:SO), said today it is buying a controlling stake in the 300-MW Desert Stateline solar project in California from developer First Solar Inc (NASDAQ:FSLR).

The Desert Stateline project is the two companies’ fourth shared acquisition, they said. "We are actively discussing ways to continue and broaden this relationship,” commented Jim Hughes, CEO of First Solar. The latter will keep the remaining interest in the scheme.

First Solar started building the facility on federally managed public land in San Bernardino County last October. The construction process will be implemented in phases and will involve the installation of about 3.2 million of First Solar’s thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules on fixed-tilt tables.

The entire Desert Stateline plant is seen to become fully operational in the third quarter of next year. Upon completion, it will be operated and maintained by First Solar.

The facility will have the capacity to power nearly 100,000 average homes. The electricity and renewable energy credits (RECs) generated by it will be sold to Southern California Edison Co under a 20-year offtake contract.

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