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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative-Sun Power Plan Solar Power Plant In Cochise County, Arizona

09/18/2015
Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with SunPower to build a 20-megawatt solar photovoltaic power plant in Cochise County, Arizona.

According to company officials, the plant is expected to be operational by the end of 2016 and generate enough electricity to serve the needs of approximately 4,500 homes, based on estimates provided by the Solar Energy Industries Association.

"This SunPower solar power plant supports SSVEC's commitment to community growth and quality of life, and brings us to about 95 percent of the renewable energy goal established by the Arizona Corporation Commission that SSVEC is to meet by 2025," said SSVEC CEO Creden Huber. "SunPower brings a complete solution to solar power plant development and operation that is proven to maximize energy delivery over the long term, optimizing the cost-effective, emission-free solar power that SSVEC provides its customers."

"Today, power generated from solar power plants is cost-competitive with power from traditional, fossil fuel burning plants," said Jorg Heinemann, SunPower Executive Vice President, Global Power Plants and EPC. "We commend SSVEC for its leadership in including solar in its energy mix, enabling their customers to take advantage of Arizona's abundant solar resource."

SunPower plans to design and build a SunPower Oasis Power Plant system at the site. Once it is operational, SunPower will likely offer the project for sale to 8point3 Energy Partners LP, a YieldCo joint venture formed by SunPower and First Solar, the company reported. SSVEC has the option to purchase the facility at a later date.

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