Construction of Topaz Solar Farms in California Valley is finished
The massive Topaz Solar Farms photovoltaic plant in California Valley is now complete, producing 550 megawatts of electricity for the state’s power grid — enough energy to power some 180,000 homes served by PG&E.
Construction activities drew to a close late last year. Plant owner BHE Renewables says it plans to formally announce the completion of the project next week.
First Solar began building the plant in November 2011. The plant was later sold to MidAmerican Renewables, now known as BHE Renewables, which operates the plant.
The company describes Topaz Solar Farms as one of the world’s largest solar power facilities. During its three-year construction, it employed 400 workers. Company representatives did not say Wednesday how many people are now operating it.
During construction, workers installed more than 8.4 million photovoltaic modules mounted on 850,280 posts. The facility is spread over 4,700 acres north of the Carrizo Plain National Monument.
Topaz is the second commercial-scale photovoltaic plant to be built in the southeastern corner of San Luis Obispo County. Construction of the 250-megawatt California Valley Solar Ranch was completed in November 2013.
The main environmental concern for both plants was their impact on the myriad endangered species living in and around the Carrizo Plain.
First Solar employed the services of biological monitors Althouse and Meade of Paso Robles to protect two species of fairy shrimp as well as San Joaquin kit fox, pronghorn antelope and tule elk. Various bird species, such as burrowing owls, which live and forage in the Carrizo Plain were also protected.
The company provided wildlife migration corridors through the plant and protected more than 20,000 acres of surrounding land as native species habitat.
Earlier this month, First Solar announced that it will build another solar plant in the area. Construction of a 280-megawatt solar farm in the southeastern corner of Monterey County on the Hearst Corp.’s Jack Ranch north of Cholame is expected to begin later this year and conclude by the end of 2016.
This story was originally published February 25, 2015 at 6:47 PM with the headline "Construction of Topaz Solar Farms in California Valley is finished."