21 customers sign on as offtakers of 100-MW solar array in Salt River Project district

Arizona utility Salt River Project announced 21 commercial, municipal and school district customers across the Valley have signed agreements to get a portion of their energy from 100 MW of solar power. This is the second phase of the Sustainable Energy Offering, which is part of the utility’s ongoing commitment to provide commercial customers with the option to obtain clean, emission-free energy at an affordable price.

The solar energy for this group of customers will be generated by Central Line Solar, a 100-MW, solar plant to be built in Eloy, Arizona, by sPower scheduled to achieve commercial operation in December 2021.

“sPower is excited to be moving forward on another Arizona renewable energy project” said Hans Isern, sPower’s Senior Vice President of Origination. “With this project, sPower and SRP will provide both environmental and economic benefits to the communities where we operate. SRP has been a tremendous partner in helping bring new renewable generation to Arizona, and we are proud of our accomplishments to supply SRP’s Sustainable Energy Offering.”

The offering allows SRP to share the benefits of large-scale renewable resources with a diverse SRP customer base. The companies range from school districts/higher education and technology to agriculture and governmental agencies and from data centers to grocery, defense contracting, telecom and hospitals.

“We have had a tremendous response from a diverse group of customers and industries who want to invest in renewable energy that not only helps them achieve their sustainability goals, but does so at an affordable cost,” said SRP General Manager and CEO Mike Hummel. “We appreciate our customers working with us on this collaborative initiative. This has been successful because SRP can utilize our ability to invest in utility-scale solar while providing this green energy to our individual customers.”

Participating customers in Phase II include: Apple, Arizona State University, Boeing, CenturyLink, Chandler Unified School District, Circle K Stores, City of Tempe, Cox Communications, Dignity Health, General Dynamics Mission Systems, Gilbert Public Schools, MATHESON Tri-Gas, PepsiCo, Resolution Copper Mining, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Target, Town of Gilbert, United Dairymen of Arizona, Verizon Communications and Wells Fargo Bank.

“Entering into long-term contracts that help fund net-new sources of renewable energy is at the core of our renewable energy strategy,” said Richard Henderson, head of Corporate Properties at Wells Fargo. “SRP’s renewable energy offering is an innovative way for Wells Fargo to meet our operational sustainability goals while supporting the communities where we work and live.”

News item from SRP

Original Source: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2020/08/21-customers-sign-on-as-offtakers-of-100-mw-solar-array-in-salt-river-project-district/