Southern Power, Turner Renewable Energy acquire new solar facility in CA

Southern company

Southern Company subsidiary Southern Power, in association with Turner Renewable Energy, has acquired the 15-megawatt (MW) Morelos del Sol Solar Facility from Solar Frontier Americas.

The acquisition aligns with the company’s commitment to best meeting customers’ energy needs, said Southern Company chairman, president and CEO Thomas A. Fanning. It also strengthens the company’s position as a national leader in renewables.

Southern Power’s eighth solar acquisition in California, the Morelos del Sol Solar Facility will be located on 138 acres and is expected to consist of 111,744 thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solar modules mounted on single-axis trackers.

Located in Kern County, California, the project has created approximately 300 construction jobs.

Ted Turner, owner of Turner Renewable Energy, teamed with Southern Company through a subsidiary in January 2010 to form a strategic alliance to pursue development of renewable energy projects in the United States.

The partnership has primarily focused on developing and investing in large-scale solar PV projects in the Southwest, where solar resources are most available. This is the company’s eighth solar project with Turner Renewable Energy and brings the partnership’s overall solar capacity to more than 320 MW.

DEPCOM Power is providing engineering, procurement and construction services and will also operate and maintain the facility for Southern Power.

Construction of the plant began in July, and commercial operation is expected in late November.

The company has entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement with Pacific Gas & Electric Company to sell the electricity and associated renewable energy credits.

Rajani Baburajan

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