CPS Energy has issued a request for proposals seeking a solar manufacturer or assembler to build in San Antonio a new solar farm capable of generating up to 50 megawatts (MW) of power.
The goal of the solar farm is to bring clean energy and economic development to the city.
Lisa Lewis, director of corporate communications for CPS Energy, says the utility would ideally like to have the solar farm up and running by late 2012.
“We are looking for someone to partner with us to bring solar power to San Antonio,” Lewis says, adding that CPS’ role in the facility could either be as the owner/operator or it could purchase power from the partnering company through an agreement.
Lewis says CPS, at this time, has no cost estimate for the new solar farm. Per the request for proposals (RFP), the partnering company would need to locate a facility in San Antonio to make or assemble the components for the solar farm.
Lewis says CPS is asking interested parties to outline how they plan to bring an aspect of their manufacturing to San Antonio, with the idea of creating local jobs. They will also need to outline how they plan to support education initiatives locally.
Developing the 50 MW solar farm would help fulfill one facet of the CPS’ Vision 2020 plan, which calls for adding a minimum of 100 MW of non-wind renewable energy by 2020. Currently, CPS Energy is receiving 14 MW of power from the San Antonio-based Blue Wing Solar Farm. A second power-purchase agreement with Sun Edison will add another 30 MW of solar energy to the utility’s portfolio by fall 2012.
CPS Energy currently has a generation mix that is approximately 90 percent traditional fuels and 10 percent renewable resources. Cost-efficient coal and nuclear energy have enabled the company to add renewable resources, while offering customers some of the lowest bills in the country.
CPS Energy is the nation’s largest municipally owned natural gas and electric utility providing service to approximately 707,000 electric customers and 322,000 natural gas customers in and around the City of San Antonio.
Responses to the RFP are due May 31, 2011. Questions regarding the RFP may be sent via email to: solar@cpsenergy.com.
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