Background

Valley Center boasts some of the best solar resources in the world. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the photovoltaic solar resource in Valley Center ranges from 6 to 6.5 kWh/m2/day.

Under California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) electric service providers regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission must achieve goals of 20% of retails sales from
renewables by the end of 2013, 25% by the end of 2016, and the 33% by the end of 2020. In 2011, natural gas was the largest single fuel power source for California, accounting for 62.4% of total installed capacity, followed by hydroelectric generation at 18.8%, other
renewables at 11.7%, nuclear at 6.4%, and coal at 0.7%. The two solar projects in Valley Center will help support compliance with this standard.

Description

Sol Orchard Solar Project 1 in Valley Center, CA:
Construction and operation of a 2.5 MWAC photovoltaic solar park using polycrystalline photovoltaic modules mounted on a single-axis tracking system.

Sol Orchard Solar Project 2 in Valley Center, CA:
Construction andoperation of a 5 MWAC photovoltaic solar park using polycrystalline
photovoltaic modules mounted on a single-axis tracking system.

The two projects are interconnected and have a common output line to the point of interconnection, which is adjacent to the project site. The point of interconnection will connect the projects through an existing transmission line to the Valley Center Substation located 1.14 miles west of the site. The projects will be executed under an engineering,
procurement and construction (EPC) contract.

Benefits

The two projects will displace greenhouse gases produced by traditional fossil-fuel based energy generation and thus help improve air quality, while providing residents of San Diego County, California, with a safe, reliable energy alternative. Estimated emission
improvements include the displacement of over 5,203 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) and eight metric tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx). The projects are expected to generate electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of approximately 2,900 households.