The Solar Project Would Be the Largest PV Installation in North America

TEMPE, Ariz., Apr 15, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) today announced it has executed an agreement to build a 48 megawatt (MW) AC ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) power plant for Sempra Generation. This project would expand the 10MW AC power plant First Solar completed for Sempra Generation in 2008, which is located near Boulder City, Nev.

First Solar will design, engineer and construct the PV power plant. The Company expects to begin construction in 2009. Once construction is completed in 2010, the combined 58MW AC project is expected to be the largest PV power plant in North America.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to expand this 10MW project to 58MW–more than five times its original size, advancing our mission of providing clean, affordable solar electricity," said John Carrington, First Solar executive vice president of marketing and business development. "Sempra Generation’s decision to use First Solar in expanding the El Dorado solar plant demonstrates our ability to provide a cost-effective energy solution for utility scale projects."

As is the case with the original 10MW AC solar plant, the 48MW AC project will be constructed adjacent to Sempra Generation’s existing 480MW El Dorado Energy power plant, located about 40 miles southeast of Las Vegas. Sempra Generation will own and operate the PV power plant. The agreement is conditioned upon Sempra Generation executing a power purchase agreement with a utility customer for the electricity generated by the PV power plant and applicable state and local regulatory approvals.

1. Sempra Generation Receives 2011 POWER Magazine Renewable Top Plant Award

   Sempra Generation’s Copper Mountain Solar 1 has been named a Renewable Top Plant by POWER Magazine, ranking it among the...

2. PG&E and Sempra Generation Contract for 150 MW of Renewable Power

     First Solar to Supply Panels and Build Nevada Solar Plant Expansion Pacific Gas and Electric Company (NYSE: PCG) and...

3. Sempra Generation Installed 42 MW of Solar Panels at Mesquite Solar 1

   Sempra Generation has recently announced that three blocks of solar panels totaling 42 megawatts (MW) have been installed at its...

4. Xcel Energy and SunPower Agree to Build 17-Megawatt Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant in Colorado

     DENVER, April 7, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ — Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) and SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWRA,...