New Solar Farm to Harness Valley of the Sun

By Liviu Oltean, Associate Editor

Saint George Solar Farm

Renewable energy provider sPower has started construction on a new 45-megawatt photovoltaic power station in Florence, Arizona. Dubbed Sandstone Solar, the project will go online at the end of this year and will provide renewable energy under a 21-year power purchase agreement between sPower and Salt River Project.

Swinerton Renewable Energy will act as engineering, procurement and construction contractor.  The firm will install more than 182,000 Jinko Solar photovoltaic modules, which will be mounted on a tracking system that follows the sun so as to improve efficiency.

Upon build out, the facility will be able to supply more than 8,000 homes and will reduce carbon emissions by more than 88,000 metric tons annually.

“The Sandstone Solar facility illustrates another great way to develop new renewable-energy opportunities,” said in a statement Congressman Paul Gosar, who represents the Arizona district where the facility is being built. “The fact that solar power is becoming economical when compared to traditional energy sources means we can achieve our national goal of affordable energy independence and diverse power supplies all with less environmental impact.”

Image Courtesy of Carl Berger