Swinerton Renewable Energy, together with partners from project owner New Energy Solar (NEW), and the project’s previous owner D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI), broke ground on Mount Signal 2 in Southern California’s Imperial Valley. Swinerton is serving as EPC on the 200-MWdc photovoltaic solar project, which was acquired by NEW in March 2018. DESRI will continue to provide development and asset management services to the project.Mount Signal 2 will be set on 1,200 acres approximately six miles west of Calexico in Imperial County. Unemployment in the county has historically been among the highest in the country, with current rates estimated at 19.8%. Over 200 people will be hired locally to work on-site throughout construction of the project, bringing much-needed jobs to the area.
Swinerton expects to complete construction in December 2019. The project will include the NEXTracker single-axis tracker system, Power Electronics inverters, and over 460,000 modules. Tying into the San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) transmission lines, Mount Signal 2 is expected to generate enough energy to power approximately 70,000 homes served by Southern California Edison.
“Mount Signal 2 exemplifies the lasting economic impact a solar project can have on a community,” said George Hershman, general manager of Swinerton Renewable Energy. “This project will offer the underemployed local workforce not only hundreds of well-paying jobs, but also the opportunity to build a skill set that can be used on future solar projects in the area.”
“We are thrilled to see Mount Signal 2 start construction after many years of successful development and support by the local Imperial Valley community,” said Bryan Martin, CEO of DESRI. “Our team is committed to local economic development and job creation in Imperial County and, by partnering with the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation, DESRI and NEW are supporting Imperial County as a premier destination for renewable energy investment.”
“We are proud to be working with high-quality partners like Swinerton and DESRI, who both have extensive experience in the solar industry,” said John Martin, CEO of NEW. “Mount Signal 2 is an example of solar energy becoming part of mainstream infrastructure investment – meeting not just the goal of earning a return on investment, but offsetting carbon emissions, helping communities and utilities to meet environmental targets, and supporting job creation in rural areas like the Imperial Valley.”
Swinerton will invest in the community beyond the project site by partnering with CASA of Imperial County. CASA programs use trained, community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in court. In early November, Swinerton will sponsor several events at the Cattle Call Rodeo held annually in Brawley, California to benefit the CASA organization, its volunteers and the children it serves.
News item from Swinerton Renewable Energy
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