The need for clean power is on the rise. The 100-MW Rabbitbrush Solar and Storage project in Kern County, California has recently started the construction process. Non-profit electricity providers Central Coast Community Energy (CCCE) and Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) partnered with Leeward Renewable Energy in the development of the project, signing two 15-year power purchase agreements. Solar Power World Online reports that the “project is expected to create roughly 300 new union jobs secured under a project labor agreement, during construction, as well as long-term operations jobs.” Completion of this massive solar and storage plant is expected around the end of July 2022 with operations functioning by the end of August 2022. Once the plant is fully up and running, it will be able to supply enough clean energy for about 40,000 homes every year.
Transitioning to a clean energy grid is an important shift to many Americans for the country. Girish Balachandran, CEO of SVCE says: “The project will contribute significantly to displacing greenhouse gas emissions while providing clean energy jobs to Californians.” The 100-MW facility includes a 20-MW/50-MWh battery energy storage system, which will reinforce and strengthen the durability and dependability of the energy grid in California. Affordable and renewable energy is on the top of the list for the country. This solar and storage facility will help the California Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) achieve their goal for the state of California to “build at least 11.5 GW of new resources by 2026.”
Concho Valley Solar is constructing a 160-MW solar project in Western Texas to power Targa Resources’ natural gas processing plant. The fully functioning power plant is expected to be completed by the end of 2022. Bifacial solar photovoltaic modules will be used for this project. Development of the plant should create about 150 jobs during the construction phases and will increase revenue for Tom Green County taxing entities. “Concho Valley Solar is designed to minimize impacts to wildlife, habitat and other environmental resources.”
Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) just started construction on a large solar project with completion dates in 2022 for phase one and 2023 for phase two. In Jasper County, the Dunns Bridge Solar I will be a 265-MW facility including about 900,000 solar panels “capable of producing enough energy to power 79,500 homes.” Dunns Bridge Solar II, phase two of the project, will contain 435-MW of solar combined with 75-MW of battery storage and will include about 1.5 million solar panels. Jasper County’s economic development direction, Stephan Eastridge, says: “Dunns Bridge Solar will provide a sustainable future for Jasper County […] both construction and permanent, into our local economy.”
Projects such as these are important to watch because they show the exciting growth in the solar power industry. Now is a great time to add solar panels to your home or business. With rebates and monthly cost savings, it’s a practical and wise investment for any home or business owner.