Tuesday March 10 2015

Topaz Solar Plant is Fully Operational

Filed Under:

News Release

BHE Renewables

DES MOINES, Iowa – (Mar. 10, 2015) – Situated in San Luis Obispo County, California, Topaz Solar Farms is one of the largest operating photovoltaic solar projects in the world, producing up to 550 megawatts of renewable energy to serve the needs of Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s customers in California. The energy generated by Topaz is sold to PG&E under a long term power purchase agreement, and is equivalent to powering more than 181,000 average California homes.

“BHE Renewables is proud to have Topaz in our fleet of assets,” said Bill Fehrman, president and CEO, BHE Renewables. “Topaz was built to help California meet its ambitious renewable energy goal of 33% by 2020. Our goal is to safely and reliably deliver energy to PG&E while adhering to our core value of environmental respect.”

“PG&E believes in a cleaner energy future and is fully on track to meet California’s clean energy goals by 2020,” said Fong Wan, senior vice president of energy supply for PG&E. “Today more than half of the electricity we provide to our customers comes from greenhouse-gas-free sources.
Thanks to projects like Topaz Solar Farms with BHE Renewables, we’ll continue to be among the nation’s leaders in clean energy.”

The Topaz project is sited on previously disturbed agricultural land that is near existing electric transmission lines. Due to the project’s unique environmental considerations, throughout construction and continuing through operations, the company collaborated with multiple agencies and stakeholders to minimize environmental impacts the project could have on the area.

“Topaz functions as a productive grassland habitat for native plants and animals – some of which are endangered and protected – while being used for passive farming of the sun’s energy,” said Fehrman. BHE Renewables provided wildlife mitigation corridors throughout the project and protected more than 17,000 acres of surrounding land as native species habitat.

“BHE Renewables will continue to enhance aspects of the environment that are touched by the project’s footprint while co-existing with the natural habitat and encouraging biodiversity,” said Fehrman.

A project of this magnitude is a true accomplishment and demonstrates the positive impacts a development of this scale can have on the local economy and the environment.

“The Topaz project has had a tremendous impact on the area economy,” said Michael Manchek, president and CEO, Economic Vitality Corporation. “The project is estimated to have infused hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy. This included compensation for the hundreds of construction jobs, the impacts on local suppliers, and the increase in sales and property taxes.”

Project construction commenced in December 2011. The project uses approximately 8.4 million First Solar advanced thin-film photovoltaic modules, which generate electricity with no emissions, waste or water use. The first phase of the project synchronized to the California ISO grid in February 2013, and commercial operations for Topaz were declared in October 2014.

For a glimpse of the construction process to build Topaz and an aerial view of the project, visit the company’s YouTube page.

BHE Renewables is emerging as an industry leader in solar energy generation with two of the world’s largest solar plants in operation. The company introduced its new name – BHE Renewables – in January 2015. Formerly doing business as MidAmerican Renewables and MidAmerican Solar, the name change more clearly reflects the benefits of Berkshire Hathaway Energy ownership and particularly the company’s ability to reinvest in its businesses and take a long-term view of energy needs.

About BHE Renewables
BHE Renewables is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy and headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. Since 2012, BHE Renewables has invested extensively in solar, wind, geothermal and hydro projects. As a long-term owner of assets, the company’s photovoltaic solar projects include the 550-megawatt Topaz Solar Farms in San Luis Obispo County, Calif.; the 579-megawatt Solar Star projects, two projects co-located in Kern and Los Angeles counties in California; and a 49 percent ownership interest in the 290-megawatt Agua Caliente project in Yuma County, Ariz. More information is available at www.bherenewables.com.