By SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. and SAN JOSE, Calif. — Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) and SunPower (Nasdaq: SPWR) announced that SSVEC has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with SunPower to build a 20-megawatt (AC) solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Cochise County, Ariz. Expected to be operational by the end of 2016, the plant is anticipated to generate enough electricity to serve the needs of approximately 4,500 homes, based on estimates provided by the Solar Energy Industries Association.
“This SunPower solar power plant supports SSVEC’s commitment to community growth and quality of life, and brings us to about 95 percent of the renewable energy goal established by the Arizona Corporation Commission that SSVEC is to meet by 2025,” said SSVEC Chief Executive Officer Creden Huber. “SunPower brings a complete solution to solar power plant development and operation that is proven to maximize energy delivery over the long term, optimizing the cost-effective, emission-free solar power that SSVEC provides its customers.”
“Today, power generated from solar power plants is cost-competitive with power from traditional, fossil fuel burning plants,” said Jorg Heinemann, SunPower executive vice president, global power plants and EPC. “We commend SSVEC for its leadership in including solar in its energy mix, enabling their customers to take advantage of Arizona’s abundant solar resource.”
The project is expected to create approximately 125 jobs during construction, which is anticipated to commence in early 2016.
SunPower plans to design and build a SunPower® Oasis® Power Plant system at the site. Oasis is SunPower’s fully integrated, modular solar power block solution for utility-scale solar projects that is designed to optimize land use and is engineered for rapid, cost-effective installation.
SunPower will likely offer the project for sale to 8point3 Energy Partners LP (Nasdaq: CAFD), the YieldCo joint venture formed by SunPower and First Solar, once it is operational. SSVEC has the option to purchase the facility at a later date.
About Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative
Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative is a non-profit, member-owned distribution cooperative providing electricity to more than 51,000 services over some 4,100 miles of energized line. Located in southeastern Arizona, the cooperative’s service territory covers parts of Cochise, Graham, Pima and Santa Cruz Counties and includes the communities of Sierra Vista, Huachuca City, Patagonia, Elfrida, Benson, St. David, Bowie, San Simon, Willcox, Sonoita and Pearce-Sunsites. For more information, go to www.ssvec.org.
About SunPower Corp.
SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) designs, manufactures and delivers the highest efficiency, highest reliability solar panels and systems available today. Residential, business, government and utility customers rely on SunPower’s 30 years of experience and guaranteed performance to provide maximum return on investment throughout the life of the solar system.
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