8minutenergy Renewables LLC, a California-based solar developer, has announced that it has completed all requirements to begin construction on the 266 MW Mount Signal solar farm in Imperial County, Calif. The final hurdle to construction - finalizing $636 million in project financing - was recently closed by 8minutenergy's joint development partner, AES Solar.
San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) will buy the project's energy output under a 25-year power purchase agreement, and Mount Signal will connect with SDG&E’s Imperial Valley substation. The project's energy will be transmitted over the utility's Sunrise Powerlink transmission line, which was completed earlier this year with a mandate to transport renewable energy from the Imperial Valley to San Diego.
The Mount Signal power plant represents the first of three phases of an approximately 800 MW solar PV power project, and commercial operation for Mount Signal is scheduled for early 2014.
