SDG&E Helps Celebrate the Construction and Operation of Two New Renewable Projects in Kern County

EDF Renewable Energy (formerly enXco) hosted a “Progress and Partnership” event this week near Rosamond to celebrate the construction and operation of two renewable projects.  Nearly 200 local and state elected officials, investors, landowners and company representatives turned out Monday to the event in a very remote location in eastern Kern County.

The 140 megawatt (MW) Pacific Wind project began operation in August and construction on the first phase of the 143 MW Catalina Solar project will begin in December.  SDG&E has purchase agreements with EDF Renewable Energy for the renewable power from both projects.

“These two renewable projects are significant not only to SDG&E’s customers, but to the entire state of California in its efforts to meet aggressive environmental goals,” said SDG&E’s vice president of electric and fuel procurement Matt Burkhart, who spoke at the event.  “We have been committed from the start to helping get viable, economic renewable resources developed and the Pacific Wind and Catalina Solar projects are perfect examples of renewable projects that have succeeded in reaching the finish line by overcoming a number of regulatory and commercial challenges.  We applaud them for their efforts, and success.”

The Pacific Wind project is a major milestone as it is the first new utility-scale renewable energy project built and completed from the ground up in California in order to fulfill an SDG&E contract since 2006.  Its 92 wind turbines produce enough power to supply approximately 56,000 customers with renewable energy. 

When the Catalina Solar project is put into service, it will produce enough power for approximately 35,000 homes.  Both projects, which will contribute about 3.5 percent of the energy SDG&E buys each year to serve our customers, will greatly help the company meet the state’s 33 percent renewable law by 2020.