Kern County offers some of the best solar radiation in the country, and a community that supports clean renewable energy development. We look forward to further developing these solar farms. - Martin Hermann, CEO, 8minutenergy
California (PRWEB) October 15, 2014
8minutenergy Renewables, LLC today announced that the Kern County Board of Supervisors has approved Conditional Use Permits (CUP) for its utility-scale solar PV projects totaling up to 135 Megawatts (MW) under development in Kern County, Calif. The unanimous vote of the Board endorses the further development of clean renewable solar PV power at the Redwood Solar Farms. Previously, 8minutenergy signed a Generation Interconnection Agreement (GIA) with the California Independent Systems Operator Corporation (CAISO) and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) in November 2013 for 90MW from Redwood Solar Farms. 8minutenergy has signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) with PG&E, Southern California Edison (SCE) and the City of Palo Alto Utilities.
The Redwood Solar Farms will be built by 61LK 8ME, LLC, a subsidiary of Calif.-based 8minutenergy Renewables, which is the nation's leading independent solar PV developer. Prior to receiving the Board’s approval, 8minutenergy's Redwood solar plants successfully concluded the industry’s most comprehensive environmental study, the Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
The Redwood Solar Farm projects are sited on 640 acres of low-productivity farmland. Construction is projected to begin in December 2014, with the site expected to be operational and delivering renewable energy by mid-2015. The Redwood Solar Farms' annual production capacity of 350 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity will produce enough renewable solar energy to serve 65,000 Californians. These clean solar generation plants will displace the equivalent of approximately 400,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, which is equal to the amount that over 16 million trees would displace annually.
“Kern County supports 8minutenergy's solar projects because they will bring jobs and tax revenues to our county, while generating renewable energy for people in California,” said Leticia Perez, chairman of the Kern County Board of Supervisors.
"We are grateful to the Kern County Board of Supervisors for approving our projects," said Martin Hermann, chief executive officer of 8minutenergy Renewables. "Kern County offers some of the best solar radiation in the country, and a community that supports clean renewable energy development. Solar is now among the least expensive power sources in the nation, and continues to decline in cost. We look forward to further developing these solar farms."
"To the Kern County area, the Redwood solar projects will bring 250 direct and 300 indirect jobs during construction, as well as 24 permanent operations jobs," said Tom Buttgenbach, president of 8minutenergy Renewables. "The projects will also contribute over $260 million to the local economy and six million in local tax revenues. 8minutenergy is pleased to be able to create jobs for people in Kern County, which has a high unemployment rate, and help diversify the economy."
The solar power system for Redwood Solar Farms will be comprised of state-of-the-art solar photovoltaic modules, related power electronics, and other components including an advanced tracking system that follows the sun to maximize energy production.
About 8minutenergy Renewables, LLC
8minutenergy Renewables develops, finances, engineers, constructs, holds, operates and maintains solar projects. To date, 8minutenergy Renewables has been awarded more than 1,000 MW in PPAs; secured more than 1,200 MW in General Interconnection Agreements (GIA); obtained Conditional Use Permits (CUP) for 9,140 acres; and has 15,000 acres of land under contract. 8minutenergy has offices in Folsom, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and El Centro, California. For more information, please call (916) 608-9060, send email to info(at)8minutenergy(dot)com or visit http://www.8minutenergy.com.