Recurrent Energy completes second portfolio for Google and KKR
Recurrent Energy has announced the commercial operation of six solar photovoltaic (PV) projects totaling 106 megawatts peak (MWp)/88 megawatts AC (MWac) in Southern California and Arizona.
These six solar PV projects comprise the second Recurrent Energy developed portfolio acquired by Google and KKR in November 2013. The first portfolio acquired, comprising of four projects, was announced in December 2011.
This portfolio, which includes five projects in Southern California and one in Arizona, will provide power to three offtakers, including Southern California Edison. In total, the six projects will generate enough clean solar electricity to power more than 17,000 U.S. homes.
"These six solar projects represent tremendous collaboration with county officials, the local communities, wildlife agencies and power utilities," said Sheldon Kimber, COO of Recurrent Energy. "Working with these key stakeholders where these projects are sited helps move us into a new era of clean and affordable power."
Four of the six projects are located in Kern County, Calif.; one is located in the City of Adelanto, Calif.; and the sixth is located in Maricopa County, Ariz. The development and operation of these six projects has provided the communities with local investment and both short-term and long-term job creation. In aggregate, the six projects created more than 500 jobs during the construction phase alone.
"Kern County is quickly becoming the renewable energy center for California, and we welcome the economic and environmental benefits that solar investment can deliver to our communities," said Zack Scrivner, Board of Supervisors, Kern County. "We are proud to have contributed to 55 megawatts of clean solar power being brought online."
"At Google we believe that investing in renewable energy is good for business and good for the environment," said Kojo Ako-Asare, Google's Head of Corporate Finance. "We're pleased that these facilities have come online, generating both energy and jobs for the local community."
"With these newly operational facilities, we are growing our clean energy resources in North America," said Ravi Gupta, a senior member of KKR's Infrastructure team. "We are grateful to all the parties who worked hard to make everything operational in record time."
