Industry: Utility
"PG&E's solar PV program is focused on speeding up the delivery of renewable energy to our customers. These projects demonstrate PG&E's ongoing commitment to providing more green power and being a leader in California's clean energy future."
Randy Livingston
Vice President of Power Generation
PG&E
Cupertino Electric, Inc.’s (CEI) Energy Alternatives Division completed two ground-mount, solar photovoltaic (PV) stations totaling 35 Megawatts (MW) for Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) in California’s Central Valley on September 29, 2011. Construction of the aggressive schedule project began in April 2011 and is comprised of two sites: a 20-MW site in Helm and a 15-MW site located in Five Points, California.
The 20-MW Stroud Solar Station and 15-MW Westside Solar Station were designed and built by Cupertino Electric under a five-year, PG&E clean energy initiative, which includes up to 250 MW of utility-owned solar generation. The Stroud and Westside sites represent part of the first 50 MW of PG&E’s utility-owned generation. The generation plants are interconnected to the electric grid with the approval of California’s Independent System Operator (CAL-ISO) at local PG&E distribution substations.
“Our ability to optimize the PV solar station design and integrate innovative construction techniques allowed us to simultaneously deliver both solar PV stations cost-effectively and ahead of schedule,” said John Curcio, chief commercial officer for Cupertino Electric, Inc. “We are extremely pleased to collaborate with PG&E to advance PG&E’s renewable energy program and support job creation in the Central Valley.”