Construction Begins on Mesquite PV Solar II and III Expansions in Arizona

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Expansion is under way for Sempra U.S. Gas & Power's Mesquite Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Park in Arlington, Arizona. The two additions will increase capacity of the facility to 400 megawatts (MW) from its present 150 MW. The solar park is located about 60 miles west of Phoenix, Arizona. Sempra U.S. Gas & Power is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) (San Diego, California).

The solar complex harnesses 300 days a year of sunshine.

Amec Foster Wheeler plc (NYSE:AMFW) (London, England) is the engineering, procurement and construction group for the projects. Rummel Construction Incorporated (Scottsdale, Arizona) is performing civil work. The Mesquite Solar II and III projects are in the midst of site preparation. Road work will begin later this year.

Utilizing single-axis tracking solar panels, both projects are scheduled to be completed and online by December 2016. The expansions have a combined investment value of $1 billion. At 400 MW, the facility is likely to be the largest photovoltaic (PV) solar power installation in North America.

The first phase of Mesquite was completed in December 2012. It has a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with California's Pacific Gas & Electric (NYSE:PCG) (San Francisco, California) and generates enough energy to power 62,000 homes.

Mesquite Solar II is under a PPA agreement with Southern California Edison (Rosemead, California) for 20 years and can power up to 45,000 homes.

Mesquite Solar III holds a 25-year PPA with Western Area Power Administration (Lakewood, Colorado) on behalf of the U.S. Navy. The PPA is the largest purchase by a federal entity of renewable energy. In addition to providing energy, it will help the Navy meet California's Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS).

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