Ground Broken on SunEdison's 8.22-MW PV Solar Plant in Colorado

In a power purchase agreement (PPA) with SunEdison, Xcel Energy will buy the solar power the new facility generates when it is completed, which is scheduled for early 2008. When completed, the facility will generate 17,000 MW hours annually.

The plant marks an important start for Xcel Energy in meeting Colorado Amendment 37, which requires large electric utilities to generate 10 percent of their power through renewable energy sources by 2015. It will also help toward meeting Colorado's Renewable Energy Standard (RES) requiring utilities such as Xcel Energy to derive 20 percent of its power from renewable energy sources by 2020, which was signed into law by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter last March.

"This project could not be done without the support and commitment of Colorado citizens, Xcel Energy and SunEdison. As the first and only state to pass an RES by initiative, Colorado is a leader in today's renewable energy economy," said Governor Ritter.

"With wind farms across the plains, new biodiesel and ethanol plants, the National Renewable Energy Lab, innovative businesses like SunEdison and Xcel Energy and this solar energy project, Colorado really is the renewable energy capital of the nation," said U.S. Senator Ken Salazar. "This solar plant project, near my home in the San Luis Valley, will help bring new investments and new jobs to Colorado and I am proud to participate in this groundbreaking event."