Tenaska and SDG&E Mark First Solar Panel at Installation Ceremony

Dozens of Imperial County elected officials and community leaders joined Tenaska and SDG&E in a ceremony this week marking the installation of the first solar panel at Tenaska’s Imperial Solar Energy Center South facility near El Centro. The more than 350 construction workers hired to construct the plant were also on hand Thursday to celebrate the milestone celebration.

SDG&E signed an agreement with Tenaska in 2010 to purchase the power produced at the 130 megawatt photovoltaic solar facility, which is being constructed on a 900-acre site in the southern part of Imperial County.  The company also has an agreement with Tenaska for another 140 MW solar facility, also in Imperial County.

“The progress and perseverance by Tenaska to move this important project forward is a monumental step forward in fostering the development of renewable resources in the Imperial Valley and also demonstrates SDG&E’s commitment from the beginning to develop new sources of green energy for our customers,” said SDG&E’s senior vice president of power supply Jim Avery.

The ground-mounted photovoltaic solar power generating system, which will have nearly two million solar panels when complete, will have a combined capacity of up to 130 MW of electricity.  When operating at peak times, the Imperial Solar Energy Center South will produce enough electricity to meet the needs of approximately 44,000 California homes.

The Tenaska Imperial South project will be one of the first projects in Imperial County to deliver renewable energy across the Sunrise Powerlink, which was put into service this past June.  Commercial operation is expected in the second half of 2013.  Tenaska Imperial South will be one of the first renewable projects in Imperial County to transmit power across the Sunrise Powerlink, which was put into service this past June.