10/23/2008 GAAS:735:08 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Governor Schwarzenegger Participates in Launch of New Solar Energy Facility
Celebrating
clean energy generation, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today participated in
the launch of Ausra's Kimberlina Solar Energy Facility in
Bakersfield. The
five megawatt (MW) solar thermal power plant, the first to come online in
California in more than 15 years, is a
demonstration facility for utility-scale thermal solar energy plants, such as
the one Ausra is building in San Luis
Obispo. That project will be a 177 MW solar thermal power
plant whose energy PG&E has already agreed to
purchase.
"This
next generation solar power plant is further evidence that reliable, renewable
and pollution-free technology is here to stay, and it will lead to more
California
homes and businesses powered by sunshine," Governor Schwarzenegger said. "Not
only will this large-scale solar facility generate power to help us meet our
renewable energy goals, it will also generate new jobs as California continues to
pioneer the clean-tech industry."
Ausra's Kimberlina facility took 150 people to build and
will employ seven full-time operators. When at full capacity, it will produce
enough solar energy to power more than 3,500 homes. Ausra's larger,
utility-scale San Luis
Obispo facility will employ 350 Californians during
construction and create 70 long-term operation jobs.
The Governor has set a goal of increasing California's renewable
energy sources to 20 percent by 2010, and he supports reaching 33 percent by
2020. California's push to increase renewable energy
and fight climate change will also boost our economy. According to an economic study released on
Monday by the University of
California at Berkeley and Next 10,
California's
policies will create as many as 403,000 jobs in the next 12 years and household
incomes will increase by $48 billion. A separate economic
study by Navigant Consulting, Inc. estimated that 214,000 permanent jobs in
the solar energy sector alone will be generated in California.
On Tuesday, the Governor
announced that California has partnered with
SunEdison to provide a zero-emission 8 MW solar photovoltaic power system to 15
California
State University campuses. Further development
is also under way by state departments, including the Department of General
Services, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and Department of Mental
Health, to generate approximately 7 MWs of solar power at five state prison
sites and three state mental hospitals. Since 2006, 4.2 MWs of solar power have
already been deployed at eight other state facilities through similar power
purchase agreements.
To make solar power more accessible to California
homeowners, the
Governor signed his Million Solar Roofs
Plan into law in
August 2006. Now known as the California Solar Initiative, it will provide 3,000
MWs of additional clean energy and reduce the output of greenhouse gases by
three million tons, equivalent to taking one million cars off the road. The $2.9
billion incentive plan for homeowners and building owners who install solar
electric systems will lead to one million solar roofs in California by the year
2018.
