The solar farm could begin generating zero emission, renewable power as early as the end of 2009 and no later than April 30, 2010.
To be located in the city of Mendota in California’s Central Valley, CalRENWE-1 will provide air quality benefits to Fresno County while creating needed green jobs. PV solar has been found to create more jobs per megawatt of capacity than any other energy technology, according to a University of California-Berkeley study. Job creation is particularly key in California’s Central Valley, where the jobless rate, historically high, has recently soared to 41 percent, largely due to a three-year drought.
In an effort to stimulate green jobs growth, Cleantech America is working with the City of Mendota to develop programs to re-train area residents to become solar installers. The firm has pledged $20,000 toward that effort.
CalRENEW-1 was deemed to have no significant environmental impact under the California Environmental Quality Act. That ruling had been anticipated, Barnes said, since PV solar is the ultimate source of environmentally clean renewable energy. PV solar creates no emissions, uses minimal water, requires no hazardous materials use or storage, and has virtually no visual or noise impact.
Avoided emissions from CalRENEW-1 will be an estimated 6.3 million lbs/year of CO2, the primary source of global warming and climate change, plus 6,905 lbs/year of NOx and 5,451 lbs/year of SO2.
CalRENEW-1 is the exact type of shovel ready renewable energy project President Obama and the U.S. Department of Energy are encouraging to jump-start the American economy, said Bill Barnes, chief executive officer of Cleantech America. Having passed the final environmental review, we are now ready to advance to project finance and construction.
