Borrego I Solar Site Dedicated by NRG

NRG Energy Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary NRG Solar, will co-host a ribbon-cutting event later this morning to commemorate the completion of the NRG Solar Borrego I Project in Borrego Springs.

Located 90 miles east of San Diego, the 26-MW-AC solar photovoltaic facility started commercial operations in February 2013 and is currently producing clean, renewable electricity for SDG&E customers. At full capacity, Borrego can generate enough power to meet the energy demands of approximately 20,800 homes. This means that the facility can potentially avoid the emission of 33,000 tons of carbon into the atmosphere, the equivalent of taking 6,000 cars off the road.

“As our first utility-scale solar facility providing power to San Diego County, the opening of Borrego marks a major milestone in NRG Solar’s energy portfolio,” said Randy Hickok, senior vice president of NRG Solar. “In addition to helping boost the local economy with 250 construction jobs, the facility will contribute to cleaner air and less water consumption than the land’s previous usage. We look forward to working with SDG&E in building a sustainable future for Southern California residents.”

Electricity produced at Borrego is being sold to SDG&E under a 25-year power purchase agreement. In addition to the economic and environmental benefits to the local community, it also provides the State of California with a new source of renewable energy to help achieve Renewable Portfolio Standards.

Borrego is one of eight large-scale photovoltaic solar facilities owned or co-owned by NRG that currently produces clean solar power for thousands of homes and businesses in three states. The other seven completed or partially completed plants are Agua Caliente (under construction) and Avra Valley in Arizona; Roadrunner in New Mexico; and Avenal, Blythe, Alpine and California Valley Solar Ranch (under construction) in California.

— Solar Builder magazine

[source: http://www.solarbuildermag.com/news/borrego-i-solar-site-dedicated-by-nrg/]