Alamosa Solar Facility Begins Generating 3.6MW of Renewable Energy.Plant Will Help Xcel Energy Meet Colorado's Renewable Energy Renewable energy utilizes natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished. Renewable energy technologies range from solar power, wind power, and hydroelectricity to biomass and biofuels for transportation. Standard ALAMOSA, Colo. -- SunEdison, North America's largest solar energy solar energy, any form of energy radiated by the sun, including light, radio waves, and X rays, although the term usually refers to the visible light of the sun. services provider, has announced that the Alamosa Photovoltaic The generation of voltage by a material that is exposed to light in the visible and invisible ranges. See photoelectric and photovoltaic cell. Solar Plant in Alamosa, Colo., began generating 44 percent of its capacity, about 3.6 megawatts (MW) direct current (DC) on August 31, 2007 for Xcel Energy. The first phase of the project broke ground in April 2007. When completed by December 31, 2007, the Alamosa Photovoltaic Solar Plant, one of the largest photovoltaic installations in the U.S., will have an immediate and measurable impact on the environment and energy production. The plant will produce 8.22 MW DC, enough clean energy to power 1,500 homes. In addition, the system will reduce yearly carbon emissions equal to 2,840 automobiles driving 12,500 miles annually. "The Alamosa solar facility is expected to play an important role in Colorado's renewable energy mix," said Karen Hyde, Xcel Energy vice president of resource planning and acquisition. "The energy produced by the facility will help Xcel Energy meet provisions of Colorado's Renewable Energy Standard, which requires large utilities to generate 20 percent of its power through renewable energy sources by 2020." Added Tom Rainwater, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of SunEdison, "Xcel Energy is clearly committed to providing clean energy for its customers. This is a key milestone on the road to creating policies and solutions that meet energy needs and benefit citizens of Colorado and the environment." SunEdison is building, financing and will maintain the Alamosa Photovoltaic Solar Plant. Xcel Energy will buy the solar power generated by the Alamosa plant as well as the renewable energy credits. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located in Golden, Colorado, as part of the U.S. Department of Energy, is the United States' primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. rates the San Luis Valley The San Luis Valley (IPA: /saːn luː'i 'vɒli/) is a very extensive alpine valley (approximately 8,000 square miles, with an elevation of about 7500 feet above sea level) in the Rio Grande Basin of south-central , home to Alamosa, as having the best solar power conditions in Colorado. About SunEdison SunEdison LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control is North America's largest solar energy services provider. SunEdison provides solar-generated energy at or below current retail utility rates to a broad and diverse client base of commercial, municipal and utility customers. For more information about SunEdison, please visit www.sunedison.com. The company headquarters is located in Beltsville, Md. |
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