Invenergy LLC and Liberty Utilities last week held a groundbreaking ceremony at Invenergy's 50MW Luning Solar Energy Center in Luning, Nevada.
The project is located on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The project consists of several primary components, including over 200,000 PV modules on single axis trackers, access roads, transmission and communication equipment and control facilities. Luning Solar will connect via an approximately 1.3 mile 120-kilovolt overhead transmission line to the NV Energy Table Mountain Substation.
"We are excited to break ground on the Luning Solar Energy Project here in Nevada and look forward to working with Liberty to provide quality service to their customers," said Mick Baird, Invenergy's Vice President of Development for the West.
During construction, which will be facilitated by Phoenix Solar for the PV Array and EPC Services for the Substation and Transmission Line, the project will employ approximately 100 full-time equivalent workers. The construction contracts were awarded to Phoenix Solar and EPC Services.
After construction, Liberty Utilities will purchase the project. Liberty Utilities provides electric service to 49,000 customers on the California side of Lake Tahoe and adjacent areas to the south and north including the cities of Markleeville, Woodfords, Topaz, Coleville, Walker, parts of Truckee & Verdi, Portola & Loyalton.
"This project continues Liberty's commitment to renewable energy sources," states Greg Sorensen, President of Liberty Utilities-CA. "When completed, the solar project will meet 25 percent of our customers' energy needs."