Solar plant application submitted to SLO County

It’s official. SunPower Corp. Wednesday filed its application with San Luis Obispo County planners to build a 250-megawatt solar power plant in eastern SLO County.

Called California Valley Solar Ranch, the facility would generate enough electricity to power nearly every home in the county. SunPower is the last of three solar power firms to file applications to build solar power plants along Highway 58, north of the Carrizo Plain National Monument.

The company plans to begin construction next year on 1,900 acres near the Kern County line and go into full production in 2012. All three of the solar power companies have contracts with Pacific Gas and Electric to sell the power they will produce.


SunPower claims that their solar technology is the most efficient in the world. It uses a patented tracking system which rotates the solar panels so that they are constantly facing the sun.

-- David Sneed
 

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