California OKs PG&E deal with First Solar, Sempra
California regulators have approved a long-term agreement for utility PG&E Corp to buy power from a 48-megawatt project being built by Sempra Energy and solar panel maker First Solar Inc.
The move by the California Public Utilities Commission on Thursday clears the way for building to start in January and finish in late 2010, and then supply 30,000 homes with power.
California utilities are working to meet state mandates to get a third of their power from renewable resources by 2020.
First Solar teamed up with Sempra in April on the project near Boulder City, Nevada. It adds to a 10 MW plant First Solar previously built for Sempra's generation unit. [ID:nN15504812]
When completed, the facility's combined 58 MW will be sold to PG&E under two 20-year power contracts. [ID:nN27532083]
First Solar has benefited from cost-conscious utilities' efforts to buy more clean power through deals with Sempra and Edison International's (EIX.N) Southern California Edison.
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