Mesquite Solar power plant gets approval on contract

Sempra Generation received final approval Thursday from the California Public Utilities Commission for its Mesquite Solar power plant slated for western Maricopa County. The approval is the final step in a deal that would allow Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to buy power from the 150-megawatt power plant. Construction is slated to start in June. “We look forward to starting construction on this world-class solar power complex that will deliver a new supply of sustainable energy and create hundreds of jobs,” said Jeffrey Martin, president and CEO of Sempra Generation. The project is the first phase of a 700-megawatt plant. Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd., which has a factory in Goodyear, is supplying solar panels for the plant. Sempra Generation is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), which also owns San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas. Co. The company estimates the project will create about 300 construction jobs at its peak and will produce enough power for 56,000 homes. It will be finished and online in early 2013.

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