Two More Big Projects Approved on Public Lands: One Solar, One Wind

Arizona and California will be home to two new utility-scale renewable energy projects, approved on public lands by the Dept of Interior (DOI).

The projects - one solar and one wind - will add nearly 500 megawatts (MW) of energy to the grid and supply electricity to 150,000 homes.

Solar Project: The 300 MW Sonoran Solar Energy Project will be built on 2000 acres in Arizona by Boulevard Associates, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy. They had originally proposed a concentrating solar plant but that was changed to solar PV because it uses little water. The project is close to transmission lines.

Wind Project: The 186 MW Tule Wind Project, located 70 miles east of San Diego, California, will be built by a subsidiary of Iberdrola Renewables.