Sempra Generation (NYSE: SRE) on Friday officially commissioned its Copper Mountain Solar facility in Nevada, making it the largest active photovoltaic solar plant in the U.S.
The 48-megawatt (MW) project is located adjacent to Sempra Generation's 10-MW El Dorado Solar installation in Boulder City, Nev., about 40 miles southeast of Las Vegas.
Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval attended the ceremony and praised Sempra Generation for creating hundreds of renewable energy jobs. He also expressed strong support for the company's plan, which was recently approved by Boulder City, to expand the Copper Mountain Solar complex by more than 200 MW.
Construction on Copper Mountain Solar began in January 2010 at the 380-acre desert site. Nearly 775,000 thin-film photovoltaic solar panels were installed. The solar farm is now generating enough emission-free electricity to power about 14,000 average homes.
The power from Copper Mountain Solar and El Dorado Solar has been sold to Pacific Gas & Electric (NYSE: PCG) under separate 20-year contracts.
