Two More Approved For Development

Projects will deliver SDG&E customers 42.4 MW of renewable energy

San Diego County CA— A newly built solar plant is now providing clean, renewable energy to customers signed up for San Diego Gas & Electric’s (SDG&E) EcoChoice and EcoShare programs. The new solar plant and two more that are in development will deliver a combined 42.4 megawatts (MW) of additional renewable energy to the San Diego region, enough to power about 31,800 homes.
“SDG&E is committed to providing our customers with renewable, community-based energy choices,” said Kendall Helm, vice president of energy supply for SDG&E. “These new solar plants will deliver sustainable energy options to customers regardless of their ability to access private solar systems and represent a growing investment in the regional economy.”
The Midway Solar III project, owned by Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company, began delivering energy in September. The 20-MW solar power plant, which is located in the Imperial Valley, is the first to be built to serve customers enrolled in SDG&E’s EcoChoice program.
Residents and businesses who sign up for EcoChoice can elect to purchase between 50 and 100 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources. SDG&E then buys renewable energy on their behalf from generating facilities built specifically for the program.
The California Public Utilities Commission recently approved two additional solar plants through the Green Tariff Shared Renewables Program.
The first, which is being developed by Ormat Nevada Inc. in the Imperial Valley, will deliver 20 MW of renewable energy for the EcoChoice program. The solar plant is scheduled to be completed in late 2019.
The second project, located in Campo, will be the first community solar plant approved for SDG&E’s EcoShare program, which allows customers to purchase renewable energy directly from a local renewable energy developer. The 2.4 MW plant is being developed by Forefront Power and is scheduled to begin delivering power in spring 2020.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that nationwide approximately 49 percent of households lack adequate rooftop space for solar systems. Additionally, according to the California Center for Sustainable Energy, 29 percent of San Diego residents live in multi-family homes.
The EcoChoice and EcoShare programs provide most residents and businesses the option to buy renewable energy, even if they don’t own their home, can’t afford the upfront cost of solar or do not have the ability to put private solar panels on their roof.
SDG&E is a leader in clean energy. Currently, around 45 percent of the power SDG&E delivers to all of its customers comes from renewable sources. That is compared to the national average of about 10 percent.
SDG&E is an innovative San Diego-based energy company that provides clean, safe and reliable energy to better the lives of the people it serves in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The company is committed to creating a sustainable future by providing around 45 percent of its electricity from renewable sources; modernizing natural gas pipelines; accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles; supporting numerous non-profit partners; and, investing in innovative technologies to ensure the reliable operation of the region’s infrastructure for generations to come. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), an energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more information, visit SDGEnews.com or connect with SDG&E on Twitter (@SDGE), Instagram (@SDGE) and Facebook.