The first three contracts are for a total of 500MW of power to be supplied from three solar thermal electric generating projects. Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) also signed two contracts for options on an additional 400MW of solar power, which would bring the total amount of power purchased under these five agreements to 900MW.
The first of these solar power plants, sized at 100MW in Ivanpah, California, could be operating as early as 2011 and is expected to produce 246,000MWh of renewable electricity per year. BrightSource will build and place in commercial operation each of its plants as quickly as permitting and infrastructure allow.
Fong Wan, vice president of energy procurement at PG&E, said: Through these agreements with BrightSource, we continue to broaden our renewable energy portfolio and provide our customers with some of the cleanest energy in the nation.
