15
December
2020
|
06:47 AM
America/Denver

Commercial and Municipal Customers Begin Receiving Clean Energy from Salt River Project

Grand opening of the Saint Solar plant delivers 100MW of solar energy to 11 organizations including three Valley cities and top companies in Arizona

 

B-roll video of the solar plant and executives

Salt River Project announced the beginning of commercial operations at “Saint Solar” the newest 100-megawatt (MW) solar plant added to SRP’s growing renewable energy portfolio. As part of SRP’s ongoing commitment to support customers in achieving their sustainability goals, the 100 MW plant was initiated by SRP’s Sustainable Energy Offering and is owned and operated by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC.

Through Saint Solar, SRP has begun delivering solar energy to 11 of its largest energy consumers who now have the ability to lower overall carbon emissions by receiving a portion of their energy from the sun. Adding the plant to its renewable energy generation mix contributes to SRP’s goal to add 1,000 MW of new utility-scale solar energy to its system by the end of fiscal year 2025.

Participating customers, originally announced in 2018 as the first phase of SRP’s Sustainable Energy Offering, include: Air Products, Albertsons Companies, Inc., City of Chandler, City of Mesa, City of Phoenix, CMC Steel Arizona, CyrusOne, Digital Realty, Freeport-McMoRan, Mesa Public Schools and Walmart.

Click here for quotes from participating customers

“From the beginning of this process, discussing an innovative energy offering with a diverse group of customers, to now, experiencing how we jointly take a step closer to achieving our renewable energy goals, is something we recognize is extremely impactful,” said Jim Pratt, Associate General Manager and Chief Customer Executive at SRP. “This is just the beginning of our collective sustainability journey and we are glad to celebrate major milestones applauding those taking part.”

Saint Solar is located in Coolidge, Ariz., built, owned and operated by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources. It will bring approximately $18 million in tax revenue to the Pinal County area over the life of the project. The project created approximately 150 local, well-paying construction jobs and represents an estimated investment of approximately $127 million dollars in Arizona.

“We are proud to partner once again with SRP to bring cost-effective, solar energy to its customers,” said Matt Handel, senior vice president of development for NextEra Energy Resources, the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the sun and wind. “This project will generate clean energy, bring customers closer to their renewable energy goals and at the same time provide significant tax revenue to the community for years to come.”

Receiving solar energy through the Sustainable Energy Offering helps SRP customers achieve their sustainability goals, reduce carbon emissions and invest in clean, renewable energy while sharing the economic benefits of a utility-scale, renewable energy resource.

Saint Solar is one of three new Arizona-based solar resources SRP announced it will add as part of its Phase One and Phase Two Sustainable Energy Offering. Earlier this year, SRP announced a total of 33 companies signed up to receive approximately 300 MW of solar energy from these new solar resources, decreasing carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.6 million tons.

In addition to adding 1,000 MW of new utility-scale to its system by the end of fiscal year 2025, these renewable energy resources contribute to SRP’s 2035 goals to reduce carbon intensity by 65 percent in 2035 and by 90 percent in 2050 from 2005 levels.

Summary

Salt River Project announced the beginning of commercial operations at “Saint Solar” the newest 100-megawatt (MW) solar plant added to SRP’s growing renewable energy portfolio. Through Saint Solar, SRP has begun delivering solar energy to 11 of its largest energy consumers who now have the ability to lower overall carbon emissions by receiving a portion of their energy from the sun.

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Saint Solar B-Roll - Executive Interviews & Drone Footage