27 September 2013

First Solar acquires first large-scale solar project approved to be built on tribal land in North America

First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA, which makes thin-film photovoltaic modules based on cadmium telluride (CdTe) as well as providing engineering, procurement & construction (EPC) services, has acquired the 250MWAC photovoltaic Moapa Solar Project in Nevada from K Road Power Holdings LLC.

Located on the Moapa River Indian Reservation in Clark County, northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, the Moapa Solar Project is the first large-scale solar project approved to be built on tribal land in North America. The project is in an advanced stage of development, and has in place a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).
Construction of the project, situated within a 2,000-acre segment of the Moapa Band of Paiutes tribal land, could start as soon as Q4/2013, and be completed by the end of 2015. The project is expected to create up to 400 jobs during the peak of construction, and approximately 10 permanent jobs when the plant is in operation. First Solar will design and build the project, using its CdTe thin film solar modules.

“First Solar is proud to participate in this landmark project on lands where it can benefit the economic development of the Moapa Paiute tribe and serve clean energy to the City of Los Angeles,” says First Solar’s CEO Jim Hughes. “We’re excited to build on the foundation and hard work of K Road and so many key stakeholders to make this project a reality, establishing a significant source of clean, renewable energy for the region.”

“K Road is pleased to announce the launch of this pioneering project, and grateful for the stalwart support of our key partners and stakeholders, the Moapa Tribe, the federal and state agencies, and the IBEW. These folks have played an invaluable role in helping bring this novel project to the eve of construction,” says K Road’s CEO William Kriegel. “First Solar’s deep experience and proven capabilities will ensure that the project is expeditiously completed to the highest standard, while carefully considering the interests of all stakeholders.”

In its first year of operation, the Moapa Solar Project will generate enough clean energy to power approximately 100,000 average homes. The project will displace more than 178,000 metric tons of CO2, the equivalent of taking more than 34,000 cars off the road, and will displace more than 142,000 metric tons of water consumption annually.

Tags: First Solar CdTe

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