EDP Renewables North America, a renewable energy developer, recently unveiled its plans for Sandrini I and II Solar Energy Park (Sandrini I and II) in Kern County, Calif.
The two-phase solar energy park includes the 200 megawatts (MW) Sandrini I and 100 MW Sandrini II.
Generating enough energy to power the equivalent of more than 76,000 California homes each year, Sandrini I has strengthened the local community by enhancing schools, roads, and other essential services.
Additionally, approximately $15 million will be paid to local landowners, who lease a portion of their land to house the solar energy park’s infrastructure.
Power from Sandrini II will provide more than a third of the annual electric need and aims to supply 100 percent renewable energy to its customers by 2030.
Both phases of the solar energy park also yield environmental benefits, including saving more than 1.4 billion L (381 million gal) of water each year compared to the amount of water that conventional generation sources would need to produce the same capacity. These water savings, in turn, will help aid Kern County’s water conservation goals.
Sandrini I and II employed more than 200 workers during construction and will create several permanent operations positions.
