Today, SunPower Corp. announced that it plans to commence construction on its 25-megawatt McHenry Solar Farm in Modesto, Calif. before the end of 2011. The Stanislaus County planning commission granted unanimous approval for the solar photovoltaic (PV) power project on September 15, 2011. Construction on the facility depends on the receipt of all remaining building permits, and is expected to be operational by the second half of 2012.
The plant will use the SunPower Oasis™ Power Plant product, a fully integrated, modular solar power block engineered to rapidly and cost-effectively deploy utility-scale solar projects while minimizing land use impacts. Each power block integrates the SunPower® T0 Tracker with SunPower’s high-efficiency, E19 solar panel, pre-manufactured system cabling, the Oasis smart inverter, and the Oasis operating system. SunPower Oasis also features the SunPower advanced Tracker Monitoring and Control System (TMAC™) for wireless control of the power plant.
“SunPower technology is fast to install, offers guaranteed performance, and is a competitively-priced choice for power,” said Howard Wenger, president of SunPower’s utility and power plant business group. “We commend MID for seizing the opportunity to help meet the state’s growing energy demand and renewable energy goals.”
Electricity produced by the solar PV project will serve the utility grid operated by Modesto Irrigation District, helping the agency achieve California’s 33% renewable portfolio standard. Analysts expect that the project will create up to 144 construction jobs and bring approximately $18.7 million to the local economy.
“Solar power adds to the diversity of MID’s power mix and is an excellent fit for our customers’ energy needs,” said MID Assistant General Manager of Electric Resources Roger VanHoy. “We have been impressed by SunPower’s professionalism and knowledge to date, and are confident SunPower has the experience and technology to cost-effectively deliver a system that will reliably generate solar power for MID’s customers for the next 25 years.”
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