Fresno, Calif., March 30, 2011 — Areva and the Fresno Nuclear Energy Group signed a contract to initiate the first phase in the development of an advanced Clean Energy Park near Fresno, Calif.
Phase one of the Fresno Clean Energy Park envisions a concentrated solar power plant, which will power a water processing plant integrated with a wastewater treatment facility. The contract focuses on activities to support the feasibility assessments of the project.
The contract follows a series of milestones for the Fresno Clean Energy Park beginning with an April 2010 memorandum of understanding between Areva and FNEG to begin development of the project using all Areva technologies.
“Clean Energy Parks, like the one under development in Fresno, will help our country meet a growing demand for clean power generation using Areva’s advanced nuclear energy and renewable technologies,” said Jacques Besnainou, CEO of Areva North America. “The technologies available include Areva’s U.S. EPR and other reactors, concentrated solar, offshore wind and biomass plants.”
The first phase of the Fresno Clean Energy Park will provide 1,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction and 200 long-term jobs while in operation.
Additionally, the project will generate millions of dollars in regional economic investment and ultimately over 1 million acre feet of clean, reliable water each year.
Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., Areva Solar uses compact linear Fresnel reflector technology to concentrate the sun’s rays and produce steam for power generation and for industrial steam uses. CLFR is considered the most land-efficient solar technology available.
