PG&E announces major new 246 megawatts capacity wind energy project to be built in Southern California by Iberdrola Renewables, Inc.
by Chris de Morsella, Green Economy Post
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), one of the largest combination natural gas and electric utilities in the United States and based in San Fransisco, CA announced that it has contracted with Iberdrola Renewables, Inc., the U.S. arm of the world’s largest provider of wind power, to purchase and operate a major wind generating plant with a power capacity of up to 246 megawatts, to be built in Southern California.
The Manzana wind energy project is slated to be located on about 7,000 acres in the Tehachapi region of Eastern Kern County, a site that has favorable wind resources. If gets approval by the California Public Utilities Commission, it could begin producing power by 2012 eventually producing enough energy to power 100,000 homes (an annualized output of 670GWh) and will help PG&E meet the California Renewable Portfolio Standard. PG&E estimates that the total capital cost for the project will be around $900M, including payments to Iberdrola Renewables to develop and build the facility as well as other costs that PG&E will incur.
This new agreement comes soon after PG&E announced that it has contracted with subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Resources and Abengoa Solar for delivery of a total of 500 megawatts (MW) of clean solar thermal power.
“This agreement supports PG&E’s comprehensive strategy to meet our customers’ future power needs with clean energy solutions,” said Fong Wan, PG&E’s senior vice president for energy procurement.
Rates for customers who receive electric generation, transmission and distribution services from the utility would increase 1.1 percent in 2012 compared to 2009. The average residential customer, who consumes 550 kilowatt-hours per month, would pay $0.25 more per month—from $74.13 to $74.38.
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