Construction to Begin on California's Kingbird Solar Facility in 2015

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Kingbird Solar LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of First Solar Incorporated (NASDAQ:FSLR), is in the process of developing the Kingbird solar photovoltaic (PV) facility in Kern County, California. When construction is complete, this generating facility will produce 40 megawatts (MW) of renewable green energy to the local grid system.

Construction is expected to begin in early 2015. The facility is expected to utilize 700,000 solar panels. These panels will incorporate First Solar's CdTe thin-film solar technology. The solar modules will be erected on 324 acres of agricultural properties. Peak construction is expected to bring 250 workers, and an average workforce of 200 workers throughout the project.

The project will have an onsite substation, and surveillance cameras will be used to maintain security throughout the facility. The Whirlwind Substation will tie in through a 230-kilovolt generation-tie line corridor from the substation on-site. This project will produce enough electricity to power 11,000 homes with renewable energy.

The cities of Riverside, Pasadena, Colton and Azusa have signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with First Solar for the output generated by the Kingbird Solar project.

The Kingbird facility is expected to come online in 2016.

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