California Energy Commission approves technology switch for 485MW solar project

The California Energy Commission in US has given a nod to NextEra Energy’s proposal of changing the solar technology for the development of 485MW Blythe Solar Power Project.

The developer intends to apply a solar-photovoltaic (PV) technology instead of solar parabolic-trough for its estimated $1.13bn solar facility.

Through the presiding member’s proposed decision (PMPD) process, the commission has agreed for the switch in construction methodology.

California Energy Commissioner Karen Douglas said: "The project will spur California’s transition to renewable energy and help advance its aggressive climate change goals."

According to the authorities’ PMPD released in December2013, it was noted that the Blythe Solar Power Project is likely to have environmental impacts that are cumulatively significant when considered along with the impacts of other projects in the region.

However, it was concluded the benefits from the project such as its contribution to meeting California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and creating around 500 jobs, can overlook the impacts.

Earlier in September 2010, the Energy Commission had approved the 1,000MW Blythe Solar Power Project under its original project owner, Palo Verde Solar I, a subsidiary of Solar Millennium, which later filed an amendment with the commission in June 2012 to switch to solar PV.

The new project owner, later in April 2013, revised the proposal to reduce the project’s physical size and generation capacity to 485MW project.

Constrcution of the Blythe Solar Power Project is planned in four phases of three 125MW and the final 110MW capacities on 4,070 acres of US Bureau of Land Management land.

During its 48 months of development period, the solar facility is expected to create an average of 341 employment opportunities, with a peak of 499.