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•           CalRenew-1 will provide PG&E with emission-free solar power
•           Owned by the government of New Zealand

Cleantech America, a company owned ultimately by the government of New Zealand, says it has broken ground on California’s first utility-scale photovoltaic solar project to be approved under the state’s Renewables Portfolio Standard program. Named CalRenew-1, the solar farm is located in Mendota in Fresno County and will provide 5 megawatts of emission-free solar electricity to Pacific Gas & Electric Co. under a long-term power purchase agreement.

The facility is scheduled to begin operation before the end of the year and when completed will be one of the largest photovoltaic solar projects in California. “As a zero emission, solar facility, CalRenew-1 will move the San Joaquin Valley one step closer toward cleaner air and create dozens of green jobs in a city embracing the new clean energy economy,” says Bill Barnes, CEO of Cleantech America.

Cleantech America was recently acquired by Meridian Energy Ltd., the largest state-owned electricity generator in New Zealand. It was formed in 1999 when the government split the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand. Meridian says it generates power entirely from renewable resources. CalRenew-1 is the company’s first U.S. solar project. The company says it is a model for its U.S. growth strategy. Quanta Services will provide engineering, procurement and construction services for the project, which will utilize Sharp thin film modules, recently introduced in the U.S.

Meridian is currently building a wind farm in Antarctica to help reduce the environmental footprint of both the New Zealand and U.S. scientific bases by integrating wind generation into the operation and displacing the current reliance on diesel fuel.

http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=12883