First Solar closes deal; Arizona plant site readied

Tempe-based First Solar Inc. will break ground on a power plant near Yuma after finalizing its purchase Monday of NextLight Renewable Power LLC, a solar-development firm. NextLight designed what will become the 290-megawatt Agua Caliente Solar Project about 65 miles east of Yuma. First Solar will construct the facility and begin energy production in 2013 for PG&E, which serves much of California north of Los Angeles. Agua Caliente will be the largest solar plant in the Southwest, with a capability of bringing power to 72,500 homes. With the $297 million purchase, First Solar acquired two other major projects that NextLight had been designing: Boulder City Solar in Nevada, a 150-megawatt project, and AV Solar Ranch One in Southern California, a 230-megawatt project. Construction has not begun on either project.

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