SunPower will design and construct a SunPower Oasis Power Plant system, which is a fully integrated, modular solar power block capable of rapidly and cost-effectively deploying utility-scale solar projects while optimizing land use.
Xcel Energy anticipates that the plant will generate enough electricity to serve power needs for approximately 13,500 average Colorado homes.
Public Service Co. of Colorado, an Xcel Energy company, president and CEO David Eves said that the company’s renewable portfolio expansion in Colorado demonstrates how Xcel Energy provides solar power to its customers in the right way.
"We are adding large scale solar that competes with and surpasses other forms of generation alternatives, in terms of price, over the life of the project," Eves added.
"This benefits all of our customers – both environmentally and economically."
The project construction is scheduled to commence in 2015 following receiving of permits as well as interconnection rights and financing.
SunPower aims to achieve full commercial operation of the plant by the end of 2016 and is expected to create an estimated 100 jobs at peak during construction.
As per the US Environmental Protection Agency estimation, plant when completed will offset the annual production of almost 127,000t of carbon dioxide emissions.
